More than 280 others have been injured in the incident at an exam center in the Central African Republic

At least 29 schoolchildren have been killed and more than 280 others injured in a stampede sparked by an explosion at a high school in the Central African Republic (CAR), the authorities have reported.

The blast occurred on Wednesday at Barthelemy Boganda High School in the capital, Bangui, following repair works on an electrical transformer that had suffered a technical fault, the Ministry of National Education said in a statement on Thursday.

"This incident triggered panic and caused several serious injuries, unfortunately resulting in some loss of life," the ministry said in a statement.

The victims were among an estimated 5,311 candidates from six different schools who had gathered at the venue to sit for their baccalaureate exams, it added.

Local news outlet Lengo Songo reported that many of the injured students were taken to the Russian medical center in Bangui for treatment. According to the outlet, Russian medics organized an emergency response and provided free medical care to all victims.

Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera stated on X late Thursday that he mourns "the tragic loss of 29 young lives" with a "broken heart."

"Over 280 injured. These were our children, full of dreams. The nation stands united in grief. May they rest in peace," he wrote.

The government has declared three days of national mourning from Thursday to Saturday, in tribute to the victims of the tragedy.

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AP cited survivors who said they heard a loud explosion from the transformer midway through the examination. Some of the victims reportedly died after jumping from the building, while others were crushed in a stampede near the crowded stairwell as students attempted to flee.

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"The building shook and we were all terrified. It was everyone man for himself," a student identified as Alvin Yaligao told the outlet.

Locals accused the government of negligence for failing to address the electrical transformer fault, with officials and workers who arrived at the scene pelted with objects by angry residents, according to AP.

"We deplore this incident, which was caused by a lack of maintenance," Gedeon Cyr Ngaisse, the president of the school's parents' association, told journalists, calling for an investigation into the incident.

The Ministry of Education has said measures will be taken to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.