No less than 9 folks died and lots of others had been injured throughout a stay live performance within the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, the nation’s well being minister mentioned.
Gospel singer and pastor Mike Kalambe was performing on the 80,000-seat Martyrs Stadium within the capital, Kinshasa, however pictures taken on the venue confirmed the venue was overcrowded.
Based on native media experiences, a 10-year-old little one was among the many lifeless.
Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bemba issued an announcement blaming “extreme conduct and crowd actions” for the catastrophe.
Minister of Justice of the Democratic Republic of the Congo order an investigation, and doubt The police and occasion organizer Maajabu Gospel who had been current on the time.
Maajabu Gospel mentioned in an announcement after Saturday’s live performance that it was deeply saddened to be taught of the demise. It blamed “troublemakers” and mentioned 2,000 cops had been on the occasion to attempt to calm them.
Organizers additionally insisted that roughly 30,000 folks attended the live performance, which was far beneath the venue’s most capability.
The stadium, an essential landmark mentioned to be one of many largest in Africa, is closed till additional discover.
It commonly hosts a number of the greatest names in music and numerous soccer matches, and was additionally the venue for the swearing-in ceremony of President Felix Tshisekedi.
Following Saturday’s chaos, Kinshasa metropolis authorities requested police to tighten safety measures and occasion organizers to adjust to security laws.
Such incidents usually are not unusual at giant occasions within the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In 2022, a stadium crush occurred on the similar venue throughout a live performance by Congolese star Fally Ipupa, killing 11 folks.
