A tragic explosion at Barthelemy Boganda High School in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic, disrupted a crucial baccalaureate exam session on Wednesday, June 25, leaving scores of candidates traumatised.
According to the Ministry of National Education, the incident occurred after a malfunctioning power transformer was undergoing repairs by technicians from Energie Centrafricaine (ENERCA). As power was being restored, the transformer exploded, sparking chaos and panic among the 5,311 registered candidates across the two examination centres.
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing scene. “We were in the middle of the exam when we heard a loud explosion. Everyone started running in all directions. Several classmates fell and couldn’t get back up,” recounted Rufin Pandama, a student present at the time. While the ministry has yet to confirm the official casualty count, early reports from two hospitals in Bangui place the death toll at a minimum of 10, with several others critically injured. The full extent of injuries remains under assessment as emergency services continue to respond.
In the wake of the catastrophe, the Ministry of National Education pledged swift action to investigate the exact causes of the explosion and to ensure accountability. A follow-up statement is expected to provide clarity on the resumption of the disrupted examination. The tragedy has cast a somber shadow over the national education calendar and reignited urgent calls for enhanced infrastructure safety across public institutions.