Seven people killed in stampede at a music concert in Congo’s capital, authorities report

KINSHASA, Congo– Seven people were killed and many others injured during a stampede at a music concert in Congo’s capital on Saturday, authorities said.

The stampede occurred at the 80,000-capacity Stade des Martyrs stadium in the heart of Kinshasa, where Mike Kalambayi, a popular Congolese gospel singer, was performing, said Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba.

State television RTNC said seven people died in the chaos and some of the injured were admitted to intensive care.

Authorities did not comment on the cause of the stampede and said an investigation into the incident was underway. However, the local music management company that organized the event said chaos erupted when “security services attempted to neutralize some troublemakers.”

An estimated 30,000 people attended the concert, in which other musicians and pastors participated, the management company Maajabu Gospel said in a statement.

Videos that appeared to be from the venue and broadcast of the event showed large crowds gathering outside the stadium in front of barricades as they waited to enter. Inside you could see people running towards the center of the stage.

Congo has seen such stampedes in recent years, often attributed to poor crowd control measures such as excessive use of force. Eleven people died in a similar accident at the same stadium last October during a music concert.