About ten homes were destroyed by fire on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in the Karisimbi commune of Goma following a blaze whose cause remains unknown. Thanks to the rapid and coordinated intervention of MONUSCO’s firefighting unit and the Civil Protection services of the city of Goma, the fire was brought under control before it could spread further to other homes.
Nzadi Vikailwira, head of the Mabanga Sud neighborhood, praised the quick response of the MONUSCO and civil protection teams, which helped limit the damage.
“It was around 12:30 p.m. when we received the alert that there was a fire incident. Fortunately, MONUSCO’s firefighting unit and the city’s civil protection services arrived in time to intervene; otherwise, the fire would have spread extensively given its intensity. So far, we still do not know the cause of the fire. Thanks to the support of MONUSCO and civil protection, thank God, there were no human casualties,” he said.
The head of the Mabanga Sud neighborhood also expressed relief that no lives were lost thanks to the joint efforts of the rescue teams.
Furthermore, he called on the youth of the city to facilitate the work of emergency services during interventions, regretting that some teams are sometimes subjected to stone-throwing attacks while carrying out their operations.
“When the fire starts spreading and emergency services are not informed immediately, it can take time before they arrive at the scene. The population, especially the youth, must understand this and avoid attacking these services that come to save lives and limit damage,” he stressed.
The city of Goma regularly faces fire outbreaks, notably due to overcrowding and the construction of houses made of wooden planks, which allow fires to spread rapidly.
MONUSCO’s firefighting service is therefore often called upon to support public emergency services. Thanks to its rapid response capabilities and the mobilization of its specialized teams, the Mission continues to provide assistance to communities, contributing to the protection of civilians and the reduction of risks in the city of Goma.
Aline Kataliko
