135 people died in stampede in Guinea, rights group says

At least 135 people died in a stampede during a soccer match in southeastern Guinea on Sunday, a local human rights organization said. The figure is twice as high as the previous one of 56 victims, reports Reuters.

The referee's controversial decision sparked crowd violence and tear gas fired by police during the match in the town of Nzerekore, leading to deadly clashes as spectators tried to flee.

According to the organization, the assessment was based on information from the hospital, the cemetery, witnesses at the stadium, families of the victims, mosques, churches and the local press.

"We now estimate that 135 people have died in the stadium, most of them children under the age of 18," the organization said in a statement, adding that more than 50 people remain missing.

The rights group blamed the security forces for excessive use of tear gas and for prioritizing the protection of officials over spectators.

He also said that the vehicles that helped officials and others leave the stadium trampled spectators in what he called an overcrowded area, the gate of which was being blocked by security forces.

also World 2 dhj 2024 About 50 dead from a stampede during a soccer match in Guinea

According to the organization, the organizers of the tournament should be held responsible, as well as the ruling junta of Guinea, since they provided technical and financial support in honor of the military leader, Mamady Doumbouya.

The government, which promised on Monday to launch an investigation, has not responded to the group's statement.