Seven children and one adult were killed and scores injured in a stampede at Malawi's national stadium on Thursday, July 6, as large crowds gathered to mark the country's 53rd for Independence Anniversary. The stampede occurred when gates were opened at the 40,000-seat Bingu stadium in the capital Lilongwe for a presidential address and football match to mark the annual holiday.
"Eight people -- seven children aged around eight years old, and one adult died," national police spokesman James Kadadzera.
According to NyasaTimes, after the national service of worship at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in the morning Malawians were expected to be treated to a match between Nyasa Big Bullets and Silver Strikers football clubs later in the afternoon at BNS.
But police fired teargas at civilians after they failed to contain hundreds that tried to enter the stadium.
Hundreds of people rushed at one of the stadium gates, causing some to fall and be trampled underfoot. As well as the eight deaths, scores of people were seriously injured.
Malawi President, Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika and the First Lady, Dr. Gertrude Mutharika have expressed their shock and sadness over the loss of lives at the stadium.
They called upon all Malawians to join them in praying for the lost lives and the families that have lost loved ones in the tragic incident.
The first couple, accompanied by the Vice President also visited victims of the stampede at the hospital.
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