At least Seven people were killed and many others were injured during a stampede at a music concert in Congo’s capital Saturday, authorities said.
DRC : At least seven killed during a stampede at music concert
The stampede occurred at the 80,000-capacity Stade des Martyrs
stadium in the heart of Kinshasa where Mike Kalambayi, a popular Congolese
gospel singer, was performing, Kinshasa Gov. Daniel Bumba said.
State television RTNC said seven people were killed in the chaos
and some of those injured were admitted to intensive care.
Authorities did not comment on what caused the stampede, saying
an investigation into the incident was underway. However, the local music
management company that organized the event said the chaos erupted when “the
security services tried to neutralize some troublemakers.”
An estimated 30,000 people attended the concert, which featured
several other musicians and pastors, the management company Maajabu Gospel said
in a statement.
Videos that appeared to be from the scene and broadcast of the
event showed large crowds gathered outside the stadium in front of barricades
as they waited to enter. Inside, people could be seen rushing to the center
stage.
Congo has witnessed such stampedes in past years, often blamed
on poor crowd control measures such as excessive use of force. Eleven people
died in a similar crush at the same stadium last October during a music
concert.