Stampede at Angola soccer stadium kills 17

A stampede at the venue of an Angola first division soccer match has resulted in at least 17 people being killed.

Angolan flag

Seventeen people have died and scores have been injured after supporters stormed the gates of a football stadium. Source: AAP

At least 17 people died and scores were injured in a stampede at an Angolan football match on Friday when hundreds of supporters stormed the stadium gates, a medical official said.

The crowd in the northern city of Uige pushed against barriers after failing to gain entry before the start of the match, state news agency Angop said.

Many fell and were trampled, it said.

Ernesto Luis, director general of the local hospital, told Reuters people had suffocated in the crush.

"Some people had to walk on top of other people. There were 76 casualties, of whom 17 died," he said. Five of the injured were in a serious condition.

Witnesses said the crowd trying to gain access would have taken the stadium past its 8,000 capacity.

"When we wanted to go in, we found a barrier. The first row of people fell down ... I was in the third layer (of people)," said 37-year-old fan Joao Silva, who survived the crush with a broken foot.

Domingos Vika, 35, who broke a hand, added: "When they gave the opportunity for everyone to come in, we were all packed at the gate already."

The match between Santa Rita de Cassia and Libolo was part of Angola's first division championship.

Police and football officials were not immediately available for comment.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world