At least 8 killed in stadium crush at African Cup of Nations soccer tournament
- A crush at a stadium during the African Cup of Nations killed at least eight people on Monday.
- At least seven more are in critical condition and dozens more are injured.
At least eight people have died after a crush at a stadium during the African Cup of Nations soccer tournament.
Reuters and The Associated Press reported an eight-person death toll from the event at the Olembé Stadium in the city of Yaoundé, Cameroon's capital, on Monday.
The crush came as Cameroon's national team played Comoros in the last-16 round of the tournament.
Authorities said seven other people were in critical condition, the AP reported, and 31 people were also injured.
A 7-year-old boy was among those killed, the BBC reported.
The stampede happened outside the game as people tried to enter the stadium, the AP reported. Some people may have been trying to avoid COVID-19 checks, the report said.
The Confederation of African Football said in a statement that the disaster was being investigated, Reuters reported: "CAF is currently investigating the situation and trying to get more details on what transpired. We are in constant communication with Cameroon government and the Local Organising Committee."
Danish journalist Buster Emil Kirchner, who was at the event, told the BBC that he saw people without tickets trying to "force themselves in."
"It was hectic — people running, people climbing fences, people breaking through the barricades," he said.