At least nine people, including a 10-year-old child, have died and several others were injured at a live concert in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, on Saturday, according to the country’s health minister.
The tragedy occurred during a performance by gospel singer and pastor Mike Kalambay at the 80,000-seat Martyrs Stadium.
Photos from the event show scenes of overcrowding, and Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba attributed the disaster to “excesses and crowd movements.”
DR Congo’s justice minister has ordered an investigation into the incident, including questioning the police officers present and the event organizer, Maajabu Gospel.
In response, Maajabu Gospel expressed deep sadness over the deaths, attributing the chaos to “troublemakers.”
They claimed that approximately 2,000 police officers were deployed to manage the crowd, and insisted that only about 30,000 people attended, which is below the stadium’s maximum capacity.
The Martyrs Stadium, a significant landmark in Africa, has been closed until further notice.
It is known for hosting major musical performances, football matches, and was the site of President Félix Tshisekedi’s swearing-in ceremony.
Following the incident, Kinshasa authorities have urged the police to enhance security measures and event organizers to comply with safety regulations.
This is not the first such incident at the venue; in 2022, a similar stadium crush during a concert by Congolese artist Fally Ipupa resulted in 11 fatalities.
Source-BBC
