At least 56 people have died in a stampede during a football match in Nzerekore, Guinea, following a clash between rival fans over a referee’s penalty decision.
The tragic incident occurred on Sunday afternoon during the final of a local tournament in the city.
The situation escalated when fans invaded the pitch to protest the referee’s decision, prompting police to intervene with teargas. This led to a stampede as spectators scrambled to escape, with some climbing the stadium’s high fences.
Videos from the scene show chaotic scenes of people running, injured victims lying on hospital floors, and medical staff attending to the wounded.
The government confirmed the death toll on Monday in a press release, adding that several others sustained injuries. Authorities pledged to provide full support for the injured and opened an investigation to identify those responsible for the incident.
Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah urged the public to remain calm, emphasising the need for hospital services to operate without disruption.
In a statement shared on his X account, he said, “The regional authorities are working to restore calm and serenity among the population. The government is monitoring the development of the situation and reiterates its call for calm so that hospital services are not hindered in providing first aid to the injured,” the tweet reads.
“The moral authorities of the city are requested to also contribute to the restoration of social tranquility,” he added.
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