- Dozens of soccer fans died following a stampede on Sunday, according to reports.
- Police deployed tear gas in order to stop brawls on the field but fans panicked and began to run.
Nearly 130 soccer match attendees in Malang, Indonesia, died Saturday after police sprayed tear gas in an attempt to stop fights between fans that resulted in a stampede.
The incident occurred after the Indonesian Premier League's Sunday night game, when fans were upset by the loss of their team, Arema Malang. Arema fans rushed to the field following the match, reports say.
Thirty-four attendees died instantly by suffocation or trampling after crowds ran in a panic towards an exit gate in Kanjuruhan Stadium to avoid the tear gas, East Java Police Chief Nico Afinta said in a press conference.
"There was a pile-up," Afinta said. "The buildup process resulted in shortness of breath and lack of oxygen."
According to The New York Times, Afinta said he expects the death toll to rise. As many as 300 people were transported to hospitals, but many died on the way, Afinta said.
Wiyanto Wijoyo, the head of the Malang Regency health office, confirmed the incident to the Guardian: "More than 120 people died, they died of chaos, overcrowding, trampling and suffocation."
The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) will investigate the incident, according to a press statement.
The Australian Broadcasting Channel reported in 2019 that 94 people have died since 1994 due to violent events related to Indonesian soccer culture.
Representatives for PSSI did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.