2 dead, 16 injured in S. Africa football stampede
A stampede at a football match at Johannesburg's FNB stadium killed two people and injured 16 others on Saturday afternoon.
- Sports
- Anadolu Agency
- Published Date: 12:00 | 30 July 2017
- Modified Date: 01:43 | 30 July 2017
Two people were killed on Saturday afternoon, and 16 others injured during a stampede at a football match at Johannesburg's FNB stadium, officials confirmed to Anadolu Agency.
"It's very unfortunate these incidents have happened. Two people have died and 16 others have been injured," Michael Sun, member of the Johannesburg City Mayoral Committee for Public Safety said.
Sun added he had received reports of the stampede at 3.30 p.m. local time (1430GMT) and dispatched emergency service officials and paramedics to the scene.
The incident happened during a game between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, two popular clubs in the country with many fans.
A source told Anadolu Agency the stampede took place at one of the gates of the stadium, as some fans presented fake entry tickets, while others tried to push their way through the gates leading to the incident.
The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The worst stampede happened in South Africa 16 years ago at the Elis Park stadium when the two clubs played during a local football league.
South Africa, which hosted the 2010 world cup, the first event in Africa, has world class stadiums including FNB where Saturday's stampede happened.