Madagascar Stadium Stampede: At Least 12 Dead, 80 Injured

The prime minister of the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar, Christian Ntsay, said that at least 12 people died on Friday in a stampede at a stadium in Antananarivo.

At a hospital in Antananarivo where the victims were transferred, Ntsay informed reporters that “the preliminary toll shows 12 dead and some 80 injured.”

The rush happened at the Barea stadium’s entrance, where 50,000 fans had gathered to see the Indian Ocean Island Games’ opening ceremony.

It was not immediately clear what caused the catastrophe.

At the inaugural ceremony, President of Madagascar Andry Rajoelina requested a moment of silence.

“A catastrophic incident happened as a result of pressing. In an address broadcast on television, he added, “At the entry, there were injuries and fatalities.

Up till September 3, Madagascar is hosting the multidisciplinary Indian Ocean Island Games.

For around 40 years, they have been held on several islands in the south-west Indian Ocean once every four years. Mauritius hosted the previous iteration.