A soccer match in the Indonesian league had a fatal balance of 125 deaths after an invasion of the field of play that generated serious incidents between the public and the security forces.
Local authorities confirmed today that the death toll is 125 people and explained that the 174 reported in the first instance was due to an error in counting the bodies.
“The balance is at the moment of 125 dead. 124 bodies have been identified, one remains to be identified. Some names were registered twice because some people were referred to other hospitals and registered twice,” Deputy Governor of East Java Province Emil Dardak said.
The tragedy occurred at the Kanjuruhan stadium, in the Javanese region of Malang, Indonesia, after a soccer match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya.
The incidents began when the fans of Arema FC they invaded the field of game angry by the defeat of his team by 3-2 before the classic rival that did not happen for more than 20 years.
The situation was complicated whenThe security forces tried to persuade the fans (about three thousand) with tear gas.
The panic of the more than 40,000 people who attended the stadium caused a huge human stampede and many of the victims were trampled to death or suffocated. Among the fatal victims there are children between 12 and 17 years old and one confirmed just 5.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has ordered all matches in the national league to be suspended until what he has described as a “true humanitarian tragedy” is cleared up.
“This cannot be repeated in the future“, remarked the president during an appearance before the Nation and added: “I ask the security forces, and especially the Police Headquarters, to immediately investigate what has happened.”
For its part, the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) had previously pointed out that “regrets the actions of the fans” and reported that an investigation team was formed in the city of Malang where the stadium is.
This incident “is staining the face of Indonesian football”, reported the PSSI, which stopped the League 1 2022/2023 competition “for the time being” for “a week”, while Arema FC “is prohibited from hosting for the rest of the competition this season”.
DOOR PHOTO: STR / AFP
