Antananarivo, Aug 26 (GNB Now) – In a devastating incident that has sent shockwaves through Madagascar, a stampede occurred at the entrance of Barea stadium in the capital city of Antananarivo.
The stampede took place just before the commencement of the 11th Indian Ocean Games’ opening ceremony on Friday, August 25, resulting in a tragic loss of life and numerous injuries.
Reports confirm that at least 12 individuals have lost their lives, and approximately 80 others have been left injured in the chaos. According to Malagasy Prime Minister Christian Ntsay, 11 of the injured individuals are in urgent need of surgical intervention.
“The provisional toll at this moment stands at 12 deceased and around 80 injured, with 11 of them requiring immediate surgical attention,” Prime Minister Ntsay shared with the media during a press briefing on Friday evening.
The Malagasy government has taken the responsibility of covering the medical expenses for the injured victims. Prime Minister Ntsay expressed his condolences to the grieving families on behalf of all institutions.
The tragedy cast a somber shadow over the opening ceremony of the 11th Indian Ocean Games. During the subsequent ceremony, President Andry Rajoelina led a minute of silence to honor the victims of the stampede, uniting the nation in mourning.
This unfortunate incident is not the first time that the Barea stadium entrance has been the site of such a catastrophic incident. The stadium’s history is marred by a similar tragedy dating June 26, 2019 during the celebration of Independence Day. On that occasion, a stampede resulted in the loss of 15 individuals and leaving 75 others injured. The National Commission for Human Rights (CNIDH) had then urged authorities to urgently address the shortcomings in the public security system at the stadium’s entrance.
Furthermore, on September 9, 2018, another stampede at the stadium’s entrance resulted in one fatality and left 47 individuals injured during a soccer match between Madagascar and Senegal.
The Indian Ocean Island Games were created by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1977, and include athletes from Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar, Mayotte, Reunion and the Maldives.
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