13 people killed, others injured in Madagascar stadium stampede

No fewer than 13 people died Friday in a crowd stampede at a stadium in Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital.

The Red Cross officials, who were on the scene, said: “We don’t yet have the final list. Seven minors died.”

The prime minister of the Indian Ocean country, Christian Ntsay earlier put the toll at “12 dead and some 80 injured”.

The unfortunate incident occurred at the entrance to the Barea stadium, where a crowd of around 50,000 spectators had arrived to attend the opening ceremony of the Indian Ocean Island Games.

“There were a lot of people at the entrance, which triggered a stampede,” Antsa Mirado, a communications manager with the Red Cross, said.

President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar, who was present at the opening ceremony, called for a minute’s silence to honour the victims of the stampede.

A tragic event occurred because there was pushing. There were injuries and deaths at the entrance,” he said in a televised speech.

In 2019, the Barea stadium, the largest on the island of about 28 million people, suffered a similar calamity.

During a concert held to commemorate the country’s national holiday, at least 16 people were killed and scores more were injured.

Three children were among those who passed away.