At least nine people have died and several others were injured during a live concert in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on Saturday.
The tragedy occurred at the Martyrs Stadium, which has a capacity of 80,000. Gospel singer and pastor Mike Kalambay was performing at the time.
Photos from the event showed scenes of severe overcrowding. Local media reported that a 10-year-old child was among the victims.
Governor Daniel Bumba of Kinshasa blamed the disaster on “excesses and crowd movements.” He said the situation was chaotic and that the crowd was too large for the venue.
Justice Minister of DR Congo has ordered an investigation into the incident. The police officers present and the event organiser, Maajabu Gospel, are being questioned.
Maajabu Gospel released a statement saying they were “deeply saddened” by the deaths. They blamed “troublemakers” and claimed that about 2,000 police officers were present and tried to control the situation. The organisers also stated that there were about 30,000 people at the concert, which is less than the stadium’s full capacity.
The Martyrs Stadium, known as one of the largest in Africa, is now closed until further notice. It has hosted many major events, including music concerts and football matches, and was the site of President Félix Tshisekedi’s swearing-in ceremony.
In response to the disaster, Kinshasa city authorities have asked the police to increase security and urged event organisers to follow safety regulations. Incidents like this are not uncommon in DR Congo; a similar tragedy at the same stadium during a concert by Congolese star Fally Ipupa in 2022 resulted in 11 deaths.
