At least 56 people have died in a tragic crush following violent clashes at a football match in Nzérékoré, Guinea’s second-largest city. The incident occurred on Saturday during a highly anticipated match between local teams Nzérékoré and Labé, which drew thousands of spectators.
Chaos erupted when a controversial referee decision sparked anger among Labé supporters, who began throwing stones onto the pitch. In response, police used tear gas to control the situation, which led to panic and a stampede as fans rushed to exit the stadium. The crush resulted in numerous casualties, with witnesses reporting bodies lining the hospital hallways.
One doctor, speaking to AFP, described the harrowing scene, saying that the morgue was full and many injured victims were lying unresponsive throughout the hospital. Videos from the scene showed chaotic scenes outside the stadium, with people attempting to scale walls in desperation. Disturbingly, some of the deceased appeared to be children.
Prime Minister Oury Bah expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, describing the events as “tragic.” He also promised that an inquiry would be launched to identify those responsible for the disaster. Authorities have vowed to provide full medical and psychological support to those injured in the incident.
