At least 174 people are believed to have died during a clash between Arema FC and their bitter rivals Persebaya Surabaya in the Indonesian top flight, making it one of the worst stadium disasters in history.
Chaos ensued after a riot broke out in the aftermath of the game, which finished 3-2 to Surabaya, and around 3000 Arema FC fans entered the pitch.
More than 300 people are also believed to have been injured in the 38000-seater Kanjuruhan Stadium, and many died on their way to local hospitals.
“Some people suffocated and others were trampled as hundreds ran to the exit in an effort to avoid the tear gas. In the chaos, 34 died at the stadium, including two officers”, The London Evening Standard report.
East Java police chief Nico Afinta told news outlets on Sunday that “We have already done a preventive action before finally firing the tear gas as (fans) began to attack the police, acting anarchically and burning vehicles.”
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s chief security minister, Mahfud MD, has said on social media that the stadium was filled beyond capacity, with 42,000 tickets having been sold for the game.
