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Fifty-six people were killed and several people were injured after a stampede broke out at a southern Guinea soccer stadium on Sunday (December 1), the country's government announced on Monday (December 2) via the New York Post.
Authorities are working to determine the individuals responsible for the stampede amid an ongoing investigation, Communications Minister Fana Soumah announced in a statement read on national television. Several children were reported to be among the casualties, as well as those being treated for critical injuries, local media and a coalition of political parties confirmed.
The stampede broke out at the stadium located in the city of Nzerekore during the final of a local tournament between the Labe and Nzerekore teams, which honored Guinea's military leader, Mamadi Doumbouya, Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah announced on his X account.
“During the stampede, victims were recorded,” Bah said, though not providing details, but noting that regional authorities were working to calm the area.
Local media outlets reported that security forces used tear gas in response to the chaos.
“This (the disputed penalty) angered supporters who threw stones. This is how the security services used tear gas,” the local news website Media Guinea reported.
Videos showed fans in a section of the stadium shouting and protesting a referee's call, which led to people storming the field and others running to try to escape form the stadium, many of whom jumped a high fence. Videos also showed people lying on the floor and receiving attention in what appeared to be a hospital.