Yaounde, Cameroon: At least six people killed with a crush outside the stadium held a match in the Top African soccer tournament in Cameroon on Monday, a local government official realized fear of the country’s capacity to hold the biggest sporting event.
Nasheri Paul Biya, the governor of the central region of Cameroon, said there might be more death.
“ We are not in a position to give you the total number of victims, “he said.
The crush occurred when many people struggled to gain access to the Oleke Stadium in the capital of Yaounde to watch the host country playing a commort in 16 African Ko matches.
Officials at the nearest Messassi Hospital said they received at least 40 injured people, who rushed to the hospital by police and civilians.
Officials said the hospital was unable to treat them all.
“ Some injured in despair conditions, “ said Oolinga Prudence, a nurse.
“ We have to evacuate them to a special hospital.
“People look lying not move on their backs near the entrance to the stadium after a crush.
A man knelt next to one of the victims and seemed to try to revive the victim.
Shoes, hats and colorful wigs _ part of some fan game costumes _ are filled on the ground.
Eyewitnesses say children are among those who are trapped in a crush.
Witnesses said it happened when the steward stadium closed the gate and stopped letting people enter.
Not immediately clear whether the crush occurred before or during the match.
Football officials say around 50,000 people have tried to attend the match.
The stadium has a capacity of 60,000 but it is not intended for more than 80% full for the game because of the limitation of the size of the crowd due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The African football confederation, who runs the African Cup, said that in a statement aware of the incident.
“ CAF is currently investigating the situation and trying to get more details about what happened, “he said.
“ We are in constant communication with the Cameroon government and the local organizers.
“One of the main officials of the Federation, Secretary General Veron Mosengo-Mosengo, went to visit fans who were injured in the hospital, said the statement.
Cameroon hosted the African Cup for the first time in 50 years.
Central African countries are intended to host the tournament in 2019 but the event was taken from him that year and was given to Egypt because of serious problems with the preparation of Cameroon, especially the readiness of the story.
The Olembe Stadium is one place that is under supervision.
This is the main stadium for the moon tournament and will stage three more games, including the final on February 6.
The incident Monday was a second serious blow to the country in a day, after at least 17 people died when the fire prepared a series of explosions at nightclubs in Yaounde on Sunday.
After the incident, Cameroon President Paul Biya urged the country to be fought while it hosted the largest national sports event in half a century.
Cameroon won the match Monday 2-1 to turn to the quarter-finals.