At least 56 people have died after a stampede at a football stadium in Guinea’s largest city, Nzérékoré, the government said .
Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah said that the crowding of people led to a large number of people to be injured he called for calm.
One of the doctors said that he saw a large number of dead bodies.
“The others were on the ground, the mortuary was full”, said the doctor.
Local media reported that the police used tear gas after supporters of the visiting club Labe threw stones at the stadium in anger at the referee.
Videos posted on social media showed the extent of the problem outside the stadium. People were also seen climbing the stadium wall and dead bodies. Although these videos have been posted on social media, the BBC cannot confirm them.
A journalist living in the city told the BBC that the internet has been blocked in the region and the police are guarding the entrance to the hospital where the injured are being treated.
”I saw six police cars parked at three entrances to the hospital. Only the staff allowed them to enter the hospital while the rest were told to go back.”
An investigation has been launched to find out who was behind the accident. Prime Minister Bah offered his condolences to the families of the victims.
Thousands were at the stadium, and it was said that the game was part of the commemoration of President Mamady, who seized power in a coup d’état in September 2021.