Deadly stampede at DRC music concert claims seven lives

A stampede at a music concert in DRC has claimed the lives of at least seven individuals, highlighting safety concerns.

Authorities reported that a music concert in the capital of Congo resulted in at least seven fatalities and numerous injuries due to a stampede on Saturday.

According to Kinshasa Gov. Daniel Bumba, the stampede took place during a performance by Mike Kalambayi, an acclaimed gospel singer from Congo, at the Stade des Martyrs stadium in central Kinshasa which can accommodate up to 80,000 people.

It was reported by the state TV channel RTNC that seven individuals lost their lives during the uproar, and several of those wounded were placed in intensive care.

The cause of the stampede was not disclosed by officials who stated an investigation is ongoing. Nonetheless, organizers from a nearby music management agency claimed that the disruption occurred as security services attempted to apprehend some agitators.

As per a statement by Maajabu Gospel, the management company responsible for organizing the event, several other musicians and pastors performed at the concert that drew an estimated audience of 30,000 people.

Large crowds were depicted in videos that seemed to be recorded at the scene and broadcasted of the event. The throngs had amassed outside the stadium, positioned before barricades while they awaited their admission. Once inside, individuals could be observed rushing towards a central zone on stage.

Stampedes have occurred in Congo previously, which were commonly attributed to inadequate crowd control measures that involved an excessive use of force. For instance, during a music concert at the same stadium last October, eleven people lost their lives due to a similar crushing incident.