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People gather outside a hospital in Antananarivo. Madagascar, on Friday to find out the status of loved ones after a stampede at a local stadium. At least 12 people died in the stampede in the opening ceremony for the Indian Ocean Island Games. (AP / Laetitia Bezain)

At Least 12 Fans Dead, Dozens Injured in Stadium Stampede at Opening Ceremony

By The Associated Press August 26, 2023 at 4:22am

A stampede at a stadium in Madagascar has left at least 12 people dead and 85 injured as sports fans attended the opening ceremony of the Indian Ocean Island Games, authorities said Saturday.

Government spokesperson Lalatiana Rakotondrazafy said 33 of the injured remained hospitalized.

The stampede, on Friday at the Mahamasina Stadium in the capital of Antananarivo, happened as people gathered at an entrance for the opening of the regional multi-sports event.

Madagascar Prime Minister Christian Ntsay said Friday that 11 people were in critical condition following the stampede, which happened at about 4.30 p.m.

Ntsay visited victims at the hospital.

Spokesperson Rakotondrazafy did not give any update on those who were critically injured.

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina was at the ceremony at Mahamasina Stadium and asked the crowd to observe a moment of silence.

The opening ceremony went ahead.

The stadium, built to hold about 41,000 people, has been the site of deadly crushes before.

Should the opening ceremony have continued?

One person died and at least 37 were injured in a stampede ahead of a qualifying game for the African Cup of Nations soccer tournament between Madagascar and Senegal in 2018.

In 2019, at least 15 people died in a stampede at a music concert at the stadium.

The Indian Ocean Island Games is a multi-sports event featuring nations from the region. Athletes from Comoros, Maldives, Mauritius, Mayotte, Reunion and Seychelles also compete at the games, which first were held in 1979.

Madagascar replaced original host the Maldives for this year’s edition, which is scheduled to run until Sept. 3.

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Death, Soccer, Sports, WJ Wire, World news

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