At least ten people died and dozens were injured on Wednesday, June 25, when an electrical transformer exploded at Barthélémy Boganda High School in Bangui during the national baccalaureate examinations. The explosion triggered a panic among approximately 5,300 candidates sitting for the exam.
The blast occurred around 1:30 p.m., sending smoke from the transformer in the western part of the school compound. As the smoke spread, students rushed to evacuate the exam hall, resulting in a stampede due to narrow exits and overcrowding.
One student, his face bloodied, described how chaos erupted during a history and geography paper. As students scrambled to flee the hall, many were crushed in the crowd. The confined space made it impossible for everyone to exit safely, leading to the loss of lives.
Victims were taken to hospitals using rickshaws and motorcycle taxis, as emergency transport options were limited. Another student recalled that the explosion came from behind their exam room. As the power failed and people fell, panic intensified. Many lost personal belongings while trying to escape.
Following the incident, authorities suspended the baccalaureate exams at the affected center, which had been scheduled to conclude on Saturday. Officials from the Ministry of National Education visited the site in the aftermath.
Minister of National Education Aurélien Simplice Zingas stated that technicians from Enerca, the national electricity provider, were conducting repairs after a technical malfunction. When power was restored, the transformer—located on the ground floor of the main building—exploded, sparking widespread panic that led to severe injuries and multiple fatalities.