131 dead, 180 injuries in football stadium stampede in Indonesia
Videos circulating social media show scores of fans climbing over the field barricade as the police threw tear gas in their direction.
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A visual from the riots which happened in the aftermath of a match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya, Indonesia, October 1, 2022.
In a massive riot that resulted in a stampede in an Indonesia stadium, at least 131 football fans were reportedly killed, and another 180 individuals sustained injuries, according to law enforcement officials.
According to Nico Afinta, police chief of the East Java Province, riots broke out as the match came to a close in Malang, Indonesia. The match was between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya.
After Arema lost 3-2 in its home field, chaos erupted, with a stampede causing many cases of suffocation and leading to deaths, including two police officers who were trying to deter the crowd.
BREAKING: More than 100 people died after a riot broke out at an Liga 1 football match between Arema and Persebaya at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, Indonesia pic.twitter.com/YsDWQfbkRZ
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) October 1, 2022
Videos circulating social media show scores of fans climbing over the field barricade as the police threw tear gas.
Local police officers and elements from the Indonesia National Armed Forces charged into the stadium, helping players from the field.
The Times of Indonesia reported that officers were trying to pacify the crowd by hitting supporters and deploying tear gas.
League officials, in response to the tragedy, have suspended matches for at least a week, in addition to prohibiting Arema fans from attending their matches for the rest of the season.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
