A stampede in Indonesian stadium has claimed the lives of 125 people including 32 children, an official at the women’s empowerment and child protection ministry told AFP Monday.
The tragedy occurred on Saturday night in the city of Malang, when fans of home team Arema FC stormed the pitch at the Kanjuruhan stadium after their loss 3-2 to bitter rivals Persebaya Surabaya.
Officers fired tear gas in the packed stadium to quell a pitch invasion by the spectators, triggering a stampede.
Many spectators were trampled or suffocated while rushing en masse to the small gates on Saturday.
Dozens of children caught in the chaos lost their lives, an official at the women’s empowerment and child protection ministry told AFP on Monday.
According to BBC, more than 320 other people were injured as supporters were trampled on and suffocated in crushes while they fled the gas.
Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Children and Women Affairs said the children killed were aged between three and 17.
“From the latest data we received, out of 125 people who died in the accident, 32 of them were children, with the youngest being a toddler age three or four,” said Nahar, who like many Indonesians only goes by one name.
“It felt like people were packed into a small tube with a tiny hole, and then they were smoked,” said 29-year-old spectator Ahmad Rizal Habibi, who escaped before the crush.
Police described the incident as a riot and said two officers were killed, but survivors accuse them of overreacting and causing the deaths of scores of spectators.
“One of our messages is for the authorities to investigate this thoroughly. And we want accountability. Who is to blame?” said 25-year-old Malang resident Andika, who declined to give his last name.
“We want justice for our fallen supporters.”
One witness outside the stadium said police refused to help when the crush happened.
“The place looked like a mass cemetery. Women and children were piling on top of one another,” Eko Prianto, 39, told AFP.
“I ran to the police or soldier to help. There were no medics in sight. The police did not help and the soldier threatened to beat me.”
As anger mounted against police, Indonesia’s chief security minister Mahfud MD announced that a task force had been formed for an investigation.
“We ask the national police to find the perpetrators who have committed crimes in the next few days,” he said in a broadcast statement.
“We asked them to… take action against them and we also hope the national police will evaluate their security procedures.”
Investigators planned to question football officials on Monday as well as the 18 officers responsible for being “the carrier or the operator of the weapons”, national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo told a press conference.
In a tearful live address, Arema FC president Gilang Widya Pramana apologized for the club’s role in the tragedy.
“I, as the president of Arema FC, will take full responsibility for the incident that occurred. I deeply apologise to the victims, their families, all Indonesians, and Liga 1.”
The squad visited the site of the tragedy on Monday wearing black shirts to pay their respects and lay flowers before gathering on the pitch to pray for victims.
Newspaper Kompas published a black front page with the word “tragedy” and a stadium bearing the names of victims.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo ordered compensation for families of the victims to the tune of 50 million rupiah ($3,200) each, a minister said on Monday.
He has also announced a probe into the tragedy.
But rights groups said officers should be held accountable for using tear gas in a confined area.
Mahfud said the task force for the investigation would consist of government and football officials, academics and members of the media.
“It is estimated the task can be concluded in the next two or three weeks,” he said.
Human Rights Watch said the police and Indonesia’s football association “may be tempted to downplay or undermine full accountability for officials”.