Boulgou: Torrential rain accompanied by violent gusts of wind, which struck the commune of Zabr© on the evening of Wednesday, May 13, 2026, caused the total collapse of a two-classroom building constructed in 1998 at the Sampema public primary school in Boulgou province. No loss of life or injuries were reported, as the students were absent at the time of the incident.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the scene at the site reflects the extent of the damage: twisted or broken steel beams, sheets of metal torn away and caught in trees, bricks flung hundreds of meters away, picnic tables buried under rubble, and tree branches severed by pieces of sheet metal.
School officials reported that the two damaged classrooms housed approximately 240 students. The building, constructed in 1998 within the school grounds, which had been operational since 1965, collapsed while no classes were taking place.
Informed of the situation, the prefect, president of the special delegation (PDS) of Zabr©, Alain Boubi© Bassono, went to the site with a delegation to assess the damage and provide support to the school officials. The regional education authority also dispatched a technician to assess the causes of the collapse.
According to J©r´me Diapa, a building technician at the provincial directorate of preschool, primary and non-formal education in Boulgou, several technical shortcomings would explain the fragility of the structure. 'The building was poorly constructed. Its orientation did not comply with the recommended east-west standards. The openings are oriented towards the east, which increased the impact of the wind,' he explained. He also indicated that the building had been constructed without a foundation beam and that the materials used showed signs of weakness. 'When you look at the concrete blocks, everything is crumbling,' he added.
The Zabr© PDS was relieved that no students were in the classrooms at the time of the tragedy and appealed to the sons and daughters of Zabr©, particularly those of Sampema, for solidarity in rebuilding the structure. 'As the CEP exams approach, I urge students not to become discouraged and to continue their preparations calmly,' he declared.
For his part, the head of the Zabr© I Basic Education District (CEB), Philibert Pouya, urged village officials to help him quickly find a temporary site to allow the students to complete the school year under good conditions. The village development advisor, Assane Banc©, promised that a community meeting would be held soon to identify a temporary solution. The school's headmaster, S©lemane Ker©, praised the mobilization of administrative authorities and villagers in support of the damaged school.