Scene of stampede (Pix credit: Malawi24)

Tragedy struck in Lilongwe, Malawi on Thursday, July 6 when 8 people, 3 of them children, reportedly died in a stadium stampede before a football match held to mark the 53rd anniversary of the country’s independence.

The Malawian state news service, quoted sources at the African nation’s ministry of health, seven of those to have lost their lives are children.

“Doctors have confirmed that eight have died and another 62 people have been injured,” said police spokesman James Kadadzera in the wake of the tragedy, which took place on Thursday in the capital of Lilongwe.

The crush occurred as fans were making their way into the 40,000-capacity Bingu National Stadium to watch a friendly between Nyasa Big Bullets and Silver Strikers.

Initial reports said the game was to go ahead as planned despite the deaths.

Malawi’s president, Peter Mutharika, has sent his condolences, and is expected to visit injured victims at Lilongwe’s Kamuzu Central Hospital.

For more, see: https://en.as.com/en/2017/07/06/football/1499347902_268907.