Indonesia stadium stampede kills 32 children – official

At least 32 children died in the stampede at the Indonesian stadium that left 125 dead, an official from the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection told AFP on Monday (October 3rd).

“According to the latest data we have received, out of 125 people who died in the accident, 32 of them were children, the youngest being a toddler of three or four years old,” said Nahar, who, as many Indonesians, has only one name.

Saturday night’s tragedy in the town of Malang left a total of 125 people dead and 323 others injured after officers fired tear gas into a crowded stadium to quell a pitch invasion, triggering a stampede.

Dozens of children caught in the chaos have lost their lives, an official from the Ministry for the Promotion of Women and Child Protection told AFP on Monday.

“According to the latest data we have received, out of 125 people who died in the accident, 32 of them were children, the youngest being a toddler of three or four years old,” said Nahar, who, as many Indonesians, has only one name.

As anger mounted against the police, Indonesian Security Minister Mahfud MD announced that a task force had been formed to investigate.

“We ask the national police to find the perpetrators who committed crimes in the coming days,” he said in a released statement.

“We have asked them to… take action against them and we also hope that the National Police will assess their security procedures.”

The tragedy unfolded when fans of local side Arema FC stormed the pitch at Kanjuruhan Stadium after losing 3-2 to bitter rivals Persebaya Surabaya.

Police responded by hurling tear gas at crowded terraces, prompting onlookers to rush en masse to small doorways where many were stomped on or suffocated, witnesses said.

“It was like people were packed into a little tube with a little 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 dozens of onlookers.

“One of our messages is that the authorities are thoroughly investigating this matter. And we want accountability. Who is to blame?” said Andika, a 25-year-old resident of Malang, who declined to give an account. her last name.

“We want justice for our deceased supporters.”