DAKAR (Reuters) - At least eight people were killed on Saturday in a stampede in a soccer stadium in the Senegalese capital Dakar during a match between two local teams, the sports minister said.

A fight broke out between fans of rivals US Ouakam and Stade de Mbour and police fired tear gas to break it up. The resulting confusion triggered the stampede, Sports Minister Matar Ba told Reuters by telephone.

Deadly stampedes at soccer matches have been common in Africa, where safety standards are low. At least 17 people died and scores were injured in a stampede in a match in Angola in February, when hundreds of supporters stormed the stadium.</s>DAKAR, July 16 — At least eight people were killed yesterday in a stampede in a football stadium in the Senegalese capital Dakar during a match between two local teams, the sports minister said.

A fight broke out between fans of rivals US Ouakam and Stade de Mbour at the Demba Diop stadium and police fired tear gas to break it up. The resulting confusion triggered the stampede, Sports Minister Matar Ba told Reuters by telephone.

Deadly stampedes at football matches have been common in Africa, where safety standards are low. At least 17 people died and scores were injured in a stampede in a match in Angola in February, when hundreds of supporters stormed the stadium. — Reuters Scene of a crowd stampede at the Dakar football stadium from the Reuters video.</s>A wall collapsed at Demba Diop stadium in Dakar as police fired tear gas at both sets of supporters after the game.

Eight people have been killed during a Senegal football league final in Dakar in a stampede that broke out following clashes at the end of the match, the official APS news agency said.

A wall collapsed at Demba Diop stadium on Saturday as people prepared to leave after the game between local teams Ouakam and Stade de Mbour, APS reported, adding many more were injured.

Police fired tear gas at clashing supporters from both teams who were throwing projectiles, and panic spread in the stadium leading to a crush.

Sports minister Matar Ba said a young girl was among the dead, while around 60 injured fans had been taken to health facilities in Dakar.



He vowed "strong measures so that such an event will never be repeated in Senegal".

At 2-1 during extra time, US Ouakam supporters began throwing stones at Stade de Mbour fans, causing spectators to begin vacating their seats in a rush, an AFP news agency journalist at the scene said.

Part of a wall supporting bleachers seating fans from both sides then collapsed as police started firing tear gas.

"All of a sudden, the wall fell. We knew some of our own had lost their lives because the wall fell directly onto people," said Cheikh Maba Diop, a witness who helped evacuate victims from the stadium and lost a friend in the tragedy.

Campaigning for Senegal's legislative elections due on July 30 would be suspended on Sunday in respect for the victims, said a spokesman for President Macky Sall.

Sall also wanted "punishments serving as a warning" following the tragedy, spokesman El Hamidou Kasse said on TFM television.

Senegal's safety record at large gatherings has been heavily criticised this year after the death of dozens of people at a religious retreat in April when a fire ripped through makeshift shelters.</s>A wall collapsed at Demba Diop stadium in Dakar as police fired tear gas at both sets of supporters after the game.

Eight people have been killed during a Senegal football league final in Dakar in a stampede that broke out following clashes at the end of the match, the official APS news agency said.

A wall collapsed at Demba Diop stadium on Saturday as people were leaving the stadium after the game between local teams Ouakam and Stade de Mbour, APS reported, adding many more were injured.

Police fired tear gas at clashing supporters from both teams who were throwing projectiles, and panic spread in the stadium leading to a crush.

At least 49 others were seriously injured in the confusion, APS said, while firefighters were on the scene along with large numbers of ambulances.

Senegal's safety record at large gatherings has been heavily criticised this year after the death of dozens of people at a religious retreat in April when a fire ripped through makeshift shelters.</s>Dakar: At least eight people were killed and over 45 others injured in a stampede and a subsequent wall collapse during a local league cup final in Senegal's capital Dakar.

With the score at 2-1 during extra time, a fight broke out between fans of rivals US Ouakam and Stade de Mbour, reports Xinhua news agency.

The police fired tear gas to control the situation.

As spectators tried to flee the stadium, part of a wall collapsed.

Rescue workers and medics are currently working at the scene and searching for more survivors under the rubble.

Such deadly accidents at football matches are not rare in Africa.

In April, a stampede in a match in Angola killed over 17 people and left hundreds injured.</s>At least eight people have died and more than 50 others were injured after a stadium wall collapse and stampede at a football match in the Senegalese capital.

Witnesses said fighting broke out late last night between rival fans of US Ouakam and Stade de Mbour and the wall at the Demba Diop stadium in Dakar collapsed as police also fired tear gas.

Government spokesman Seydou Gueye condemned the violence, adding that authorities moved the injured to hospitals around Dakar.

He said an investigation will be opened into the incident.

The government also announced a ban on sports and cultural activities during the legislative campaign period leading to parliamentary elections on July 30.</s>Football fans at a stadium in Senegal have described the moment a wall collapsed, killing eight people and injuring dozens.

The incident happened at Demba Diop stadium in the capital, Dakar, after fighting between rival fans. Police responded by using tear gas, which led to a stampede and the wall collapse.</s>DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Witnesses said at least eight people have died and more than 50 were injured after a stadium wall collapse and stampede at a soccer match in the Senegalese capital.

Those present said fighting broke out late Saturday between rival fans of US Ouakam and Stade de Mbour and the wall at the Demba Diop stadium in Dakar collapsed as police also fired tear gas.

Government spokesman Seydou Gueye on Sunday condemned the violence, adding that authorities moved the injured to hospitals around Dakar. He said an investigation will be opened into the incident.

The government also announced a ban on sports and cultural activities during the legislative campaign period leading to parliamentary elections on July 30.

This story has been corrected to state that the fighting between rival fans in Dakar took place on Saturday, not Friday.</s>DAKAR, Senegal — Eight people were killed and more than 40 were seriously injured after clashes at the end of a League Cup final football match at Demba Diop Stadium in Dakar, Senegal on Saturday.

Fans from the opposing teams, US Ouakam and Stade De Mbour, exchanged blows and numerous projectiles were fired, Senegal’s official news agency Agence de Presse Senegalaise (APS), reported.

As spectators tried to leave the stadium, APS said a wall collapsed under their weight.

Ambulances and fire trucks were dispatched to attend to the victims, while police used tear gas to disperse the large crowd.

Senegal’s President Macky Sall said on Twitter that those behind the tragedy would be punished.

“Outraged by the incidents at the Demba Diop Stadium. The light will be cast on this tragedy. Those responsible will be identified and sanctioned,” Sall said in French.

The incident in Senegal is the latest in a list of stadium disasters around the world this year.

Earlier this month, eight people were killed at in a stampede at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe as people arrived to celebrate Malawi’s 53rd anniversary of independence.

In May, four people were killed and several injured in a stampede at Honduras’ national stadium prior to the league final between Motagua and Honduras Progreso.

Police said a group of fans had tried to enter one section of the stadium in a violent manner.

Meantime, at least 17 people were killed ahead of the opening match of the Angolan football league in February.

The stampede happened at the Municipal Stadium 4 de Janeiro, which is in Uíge, some 300 kilometers (186 miles) northeast of the capital, Luanda, state-run media reported.

State-run television station TPA reported football fans did not follow security instructions and tried to enter the stadium through one gate to watch the match between Santa Rita de Cássia and Recreativo do Libolo.</s>At least eight people have died and more than 50 injured after a stadium wall collapse and stampede at a soccer match in the Senegalese capital.

Those present said fighting broke out late on Friday between rival fans of US Ouakam and Stade de Mbour and the wall at the Demba Diop stadium in Dakar collapsed as police also fired tear gas.

Government spokesman Seydou Gueye on Sunday condemned the violence, adding that authorities moved the injured to hospitals around Dakar. He says an investigation will be opened into the incident.

The government also announced a ban on sports and cultural activities during the legislative campaign period leading to parliamentary elections on July 30.

Originally published as Eight killed in soccer stampede in Senegal
At least eight people are killed in a stampede at a football stadium in Dakar, Senegal, that started after police used tear gas to break up a fight between the rival teams' fans.