33 minors among victims of Indonesia stadium stampede

At least 33 minors were among those killed in a stampede at a football match in Indonesia over the weekend. 

NAN reports that the figure was confirmed on Tuesday by Nahar, an official in the country’s ministry for women empowerment and child protection.

TheCable had earlier reported that several people were feared dead after thousands of fans invaded the pitch during a match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya at Kanjuruhan Stadium in the eastern city of Malang.

The incident occurred on Saturday night after fans began a brawl.

The police officers, in an attempt to stop the brawl on the field, fired tear gas, triggering the stampede as panicked fans rushed to exit the gates.

It was later confirmed that 125 died and 180 persons were injured in the stampede described as one of the world’s worst sports disasters.

Nahar said a toddler of about three or four years old was among those killed in the incident.

He said the figures are not conclusive as more families are yet to provide information on victims.

“This still can change because we have not received all the information from families of the victims,’’ Nahar said.

The tragedy led to the sacking of Ferli Hidayat as the Malang district police chief.

Nine officers were also suspended and questioned on suspicion of ordering security personnel to fire tear gas inside the stadium.