At least 12 people have been killed in a stampede at a stadium in Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, Prime Minister Christian Ntse says.
Another 80 people were injured during the opening ceremony of the Indian Ocean Islands Games at the Mahamasena Stadium.
“There were a lot of people at the gate,” Red Cross official Antsa Merado told JEE News.
President Andriy Rajvelina, who was at the stadium, said it was a “sad event”, leading a minute’s silence.
The Mahamasena Stadium, with a capacity of around 41,000, is packed with spectators.
Footage has emerged showing several injured people lying dazed on the ground. Other victims are being taken from the stadium.
Established in 1977, the Indian Ocean Island Games is a multi-sport event held every four years.
Among the participants are the island countries and territories of Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives and Reunion.
In 2018, one person was killed and around 40 others injured in a stampede in Mahamasina before the start of a Madagascar-Senegal football match.
In 2016, two people were killed and around 80 injured in a grenade explosion at the same location during Madagascar’s National Day celebrations. The explosion took place during a free concert.
Two years ago, a small child was killed and several others injured in a grenade explosion outside the same stadium.