Seven people were killed and numerous others injured in a stampede during a music concert at the 80,000-capacity Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa, Congo’s capital.
The incident occurred on Saturday during a performance by popular Congolese gospel singer, Mike Kalambayi. State television, RTNC confirmed the fatalities and reported that some of the injured were admitted to intensive care.
While the cause of the stampede is still under investigation, the local music management company, Maajabu Gospel, which organized the event, stated that chaos erupted when security services attempted to “neutralize some troublemakers.”
Approximately 30,000 people attended the concert, which featured several other musicians and pastors, according to Maajabu Gospel. Videos from the scene showed large crowds gathered outside the stadium, waiting to enter, while inside, people rushed towards the center stage.
Congo has experienced similar incidents in the past, often attributed to poor crowd control measures. Last October, eleven people died in a similar incident at the same stadium during a music concert.
