At least 12 people died, and 80 others were injured after a crush of sports fans trying to enter the national stadium of Madagascar for the opening ceremony of the Indian Ocean Island Games, officials said on Friday.
Prime Minister Christian Ntsay told reporters in Antananarivo that 11 injured are in critical condition at a local hospital.
Shared videos on social media depict Red Cross personnel treating numerous injured individuals beside the athletics track.
The cause of the stampede remains unclear at this time.
During the event at Mahamasina Stadium, Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina was present and requested the audience to observe a brief silence in honour of the deceased.
The stadium, designed for around 41,000 attendees, has previously experienced deadly crash incidents. In 2018, a crush occurred before an African Cup of Nations soccer qualifier between Madagascar and Senegal, resulting in one death and at least 37 injuries.
The Indian Ocean Island Games, a multi-sports event involving regional nations, sees participation from Comoros, Maldives, Mauritius, Mayotte, Reunion, and Seychelles, alongside Madagascar.
