Madagascar: At least 12 killed in stampede at Indian Ocean Island Games opening ceremony

A stampede of sports activities followers attempting to enter Madagascar’s nationwide stadium for the opening ceremony of the Indian Ocean Island Games has killed at the least 12 and left round 80 injured, in line with the nation’s prime minister.

Videos shared on social media confirmed Red Cross staff caring for dozens of injured folks subsequent to the athletics observe.

Prime Minister Christian Ntsay mentioned 11 of the injured had been in a important situation. It was not instantly clear what triggered the stampede on the 41,000 capability Mahamasina stadium.

“An unfortunate event happened. There was a stampede at the entrance. There were a lot of injuries. We will observe a few seconds of silence because compatriots have died when they wanted to enter,” President Andry Rajoelina informed the group within the stadium.

After the silence, the ceremony continued with a laser present and fireworks.

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At least 15 folks had been killed in an identical incident throughout a music live performance on the stadium in 2019, and in 2018 one particular person died and at the least 37 had been injured in a crush forward of a qualifying soccer match for the African Cup of Nations between Madagascar and Senegal in 2018.

The Indian Ocean Island Games had been created by the International Olympic Committee in 1977, and embody athletes from Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar, Mayotte, Reunion and the Maldives.