8 dead in stampede outside Cameroon soccer match

The death total from the deadly stampede outside of an African Cup of Nations soccer match has risen to eight, Cameroon authorities said on Tuesday, The Associated Press reported. 

Authorities said the death total increased after two more fans were pronounced dead outside of the Messassi hospital. 

Civilians and police initially rushed injured fans to the nearby medical facility, but the hospital said it was not capable of treating all victims from the incident, according to the AP. 

Authorities said a total of 38 fans were injured in the incident, including 31 people with slight to moderate injures and seven still in serious condition. 

Soccer officials have said at least 50,000 fans tried to get into Olembe Stadium in the capital city of Yaoundé to watch Cameroon play Comoros in the last round of 16 knockout game of Africa’s top soccer tournament.

The stadium had a maximum capacity at 60,000; however, attendance was restricted to 80 percent capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions on crowd sizes, the AP reported. 

A witness said that the stampede happened due to security officials directing fans to an entrance of the stadium that was locked.  

The gate eventually opened, causing a surge of fans trampling over one another as children were also caught in the stampede, the AP reported. 

In a statement, Confederation of African Football President Patrice Motsepe said he has given the local organizing committee until Friday to tell him who is responsible for the incident. 

“Our priority is the safety of people and if we are not assured that the stadium offers that safety, we will not accept matches to be played there again,” Motsepe said.