Angolan president wants answers after at least 17 die in stadium stampede

Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos has expressed his sadness and called for an investigation after Friday’s stadium tragedy in the northern city of Uige took the lives of at least 17 people, according to Reuters.

Those among the dead include children, according to Portuguese reports obtained by the Associated Press, with dozens of people at the venue suffering injuries.

The Girabola meeting between Santa Rita de Cassia and Recreativo do Libolo attracted fans which exceeded the ground’s 8,000 capacity, with the disaster apparently occurring when hundreds of supporters stormed the gates in a bid to gain entry.

A medical official told the BBC that “some of those who fell became trapped and suffocated at the venue” due to the ensuing stampede.

Dos Santos said in a statement:

I express my solidarity with the families of the deceased and have instructed the Provincial Government of Uige to provide all necessary assistance to the injured and have given guidance to the competent authorities to open an inquiry that will establish the cause of this serious incident.

Five of those injured are reported to be in a serious condition.

“Some people had to walk on top of other people. There were 76 casualties, of whom 17 died,” Ernesto Luis, director general of the local hospital, said.

State news agency Angop understands the Ministry of Sports has also called for the local football association and provincial authorities to launch an investigation into the cause of the incident.