July 16 (UPI) — Eight people died and at least 88 people were injured after a soccer stadium partly collapsed amid fighting between fans of two teams in Senegal, an official news agency reported.
Stade de Mbour scored in the first period of extra time to defeat Union Sportive Ouakam 2-1 in the African nation’s capital, Dakar, and violence broke out Saturday. Some fans threw projectiles, including stones, Agence de Presse Senegalaise reported.
Police responded with tear gas, prompting panicking fans to climb over a low wall at Demba Diop Stadium.
Sports minister Matar Ba said a young girl was among those killed.
Ambulances and fire trucks transported around 60 victims to hospitals.
“Outraged by the incidents at the Demba Diop Stadium. The light will be cast on this tragedy. Those responsible will be identified and sanctioned,” Senegal’s President Macky Sall posted on Twitter in French.
A spokesman for Sall said campaigning for upcoming elections would be suspended Sunday.
Sall said he extended his condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery for those injured. Sall also ordered Senegal’s prime minister to “take all the necessary measures to improve security in the stadiums,” a presidential statement reads.
Several other stampedes have occurred at stadiums this year.
Earlier this month, eight people died in a stampede at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe as people arrived to celebrate Malawi’s 53rd anniversary of independence.
In May, four people died and several others were injured in a stampede at Honduras’ national stadium before the soccer league final between C.D. Motagua and C.D. Honduras Progreso.
In February, at least 17 people were killed in Angola before the opening match of a soccer league.
