At least nine people tragically lost their lives, and several others were injured during a concert in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, confirmed the country’s health minister.
The incident occurred at the Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa, which has a capacity of 80,000, while gospel singer Mike Kalambay was performing. Reports from the event highlighted severe overcrowding. Among the deceased is a 10-year-old child, according to local sources.
Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba attributed the fatalities to “excesses and crowd movements,” prompting the justice minister to initiate an investigation into the event, including questioning police officials present and the event organizer.
The event organizer expressed deep sorrow over the fatalities, attributing the chaos to “troublemakers” amidst the presence of 2,000 police officers. They contested claims of excessive attendance, stating that only about 30,000 people were present, significantly below the stadium’s capacity.
The Martyrs Stadium, a prominent landmark and one of Africa’s largest venues, has been closed indefinitely following the incident. Known for hosting major musical acts and significant events, it has faced scrutiny regarding safety protocols.
In light of Saturday’s events, city authorities in Kinshasa are urging police to enhance security measures and reminding event organizers of the importance of adherence to safety regulations.
Tragic occurrences at large-scale events are not rare in the Democratic Republic of Congo; a similar incident in 2022 at the same venue resulted in 11 fatalities during a concert by Congolese artist Fally Ipupa.
