129 killed in Indonesia stampede at a football stadium

New Delhi: Indonesia witnessed one of the worst stadium disasters on Saturday night when 129 people died, mostly from trampling, after a stampede at a football stadium.

#watch: 129 killed in #Indonesia #stampede at a #football stadium - one of the world's worst stadium disasters. pic.twitter.com/kQ9CrKGXDe

— NewsDrum (@thenewsdrum) October 2, 2022

When supporters of the losing home team invaded the pitch in East Java province on Saturday night to express their frustration, officers fired tear gas in an attempt to control the situation, triggering a stampede and cases of suffocation, East Java police chief Nico Afinta told reporters.

"It had gotten anarchic. They started attacking officers, they damaged cars," Nico said, adding that the crush occurred when fans fled for an exit gate.

The country's chief security minister, Mahfud MD, said in an Instagram post that the stadium had been filled beyond its capacity. He said 42,000 tickets had been issued for a stadium that is only supposed to hold 38,000 people.

In his post, Mahfud wrote: "RELATED TO THE RIOT AFTER THE FOOTBALL MATCH IN KANJURUHAN MALANG: I have received information from Police Officer, General Listyo Sigit. I have also coordinated with Kapolda East Java, Irjen Nico Afinta. Government regrets riots in Kanjuruhan. Government will handle this tragedy well. To the victims family, our condolences. We also hope that the victim's family will be patient and continue to coordinate with the apparatus and government officials in the field. Malang Regency Governor will cover the hospital cost for the victims. Actually, since before the match the authorities have been anticipating through coordination and technical suggestions on the field. For example, the match to be held in the afternoon (not at night), the number of spectators to be adjusted to the stadium's capacity is 38.000 people. But the proposals were not made by the Executive Committee that seemed very excited. The game remained on the evening, with 42,000 tickets scored. I need to emphasize that the tragedy of Kanjuruhan is not a clash between Persebaya supporters and Arema. Because Persebaya supporters can't watch at that match. Supporters in the field are only from Arema. Therefore, the victims generally died from pushing, squeezing, trampling, and shortness of breath. There were no victims of beating or harassment between supporters. The government has made improvements to the implementation of football matches over time and will continue to improve. But the widely popular sport often lures supporters into sudden expression of emotion."