Central Africa President, Faustin-Archange Touadéra has declared a period of national mourning following the death of Twenty-Nine (29) children who were taking school exams died in a crush after a nearby explosion caused panic.
Local media reported that the blast, which occurred on the second day of the high school finals, happened at an electricity transformer last Wednesday. The noise of the explosion, combined with smoke, caused alarm among the nearly 6,000 students sitting the baccalaureate at a school in the capital, Bangui.
President Touadéra also ordered that the more than 280 who were wounded in the crush get free treatment in hospital. He also announced the suspension of further exams.
According to reports, Students from five different schools in the capital moved to the Lycée Barthélémy Boganda to sit the baccalaureate exam.
The Education Ministry said the explosion happened after power was restored at the electricity transformer located on the ground floor of the main building, which had been undergoing repairs.