Continue reading »]]> At least 11 people were killed and 30 wounded after a stampede ensued at the close of an eight-day music festival in Morocco on Saturday night, the country’s news agency said.

Among the victims of the stampede at the Mawazine festival in the capital city of Rabat were five women, four men and two children, the Maghreb Arab Press said.

They were among thousands who had packed the Hay Nahda stadium on Saturday night.

It was the last night of the festival that took place in several locations and featured, among others, Australian singer Kylie Minogue, Algerian pop star Khaled and American R&B artists Alicia Keyes and Stevie Wonder.

11 killed at music festival stampede in Morocco

Continue reading »]]> The nation was in deep shock and mourning yesterday, following the news of a horrendous disco hall stampede during the Eid el Fitr celebrations in Tabora town on Wednesday evening, in which 19 children perished and 16 others were hospitalised.

Twelve of those admitted had been treated and discharged by last evening, leaving behind four with serious injuries. The stampede was apparently caused by some panic in the overcrowded hall.

The children, aged between seven and 18 years, died in the incident in the disco hall, where they had gone to make merry in festivities marking the end of Ramadan, the month-long fast for Muslims.

President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday ordered a thorough investigation into the incident, as he dispatched Labour and employment minister Juma Kapuya to coordinate the burials of the dead children on behalf of the Government.

President Kikwete, expressing his utter shock and sympathy, sent his condolences to the families of the dead through Tabora Regional Commissioner Abeid Mwinyimusa.

He said stern action would be taken against those, who through negligence, may have caused the deaths of the young people. Mr Mwinyimusa announced that two employees of the club had been picked up for questioning.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the children may have died of suffocation in the hall, which appears to have admitted double its capacity. Initial reports indicate that there were nearly 400 people in the hall.

Yesterday, as it dawned on the country that the incident could be one of the worst during Eid el Fitr celebrations, the Government formed a team to investigate the causes and circumstances so that appropriate action can be taken against the culprits.

Tabora town was engulfed in scenes of anguish, wailing and disbelief, as families began to collect their dead ones from Kitete hospital for burial.

Some parents, who were not aware that their children had sneaked to Bubbles disco club, awoke to a rude shock, on learning of and confirming that their own were among the dead.

RC Mwinyimusa released the names of the dead as Veronica Maningu, 7, Beatrice Makelele, 14, Jacob Gerald, 12, Salima Hamis, 12, Khadija Waziri, 13, Rehema Fulgence, 11, Mrisho Suleiman, 9, and Abdallah Rehani, 14.

Others were Agatha Maningu, 12, Paulina Emmanuel, 11, Ramla Yenga, 15, Mohamed Kapaya, 15, Habiba Shaaban, 14, Donald Kasela, 12, Mwanahamis Waziri, 11, Philipo Haule, 10, Ashura Jamal, 12, and Yasin Rashid, 11.

Prof Kapuya, who led a team of fellow senior government officials, including Speaker of the National Assembly Samuel Sitta, to the scene, said there was evidence of human error in the tragedy.

“The incident has shocked the country and robbed the nation of its future leaders,” said Prof Kapuya.

Mr Mwinyimusa said seven people have been appointed to the committee, which will include a government lawyer, the regional head of intelligence, police, building contractors, the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), regional cultural officer and one representative of the families.

The Government also announced the release of more than Sh20 million as compensation for the bereaved families.

Prof Kapuya said the President had approved payment from the central government of Sh500, 000 every dead child, while the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), which owns the building in which the club is located, will also donate a similar amount. Tabora regional authorities will top up the donation with Sh50,000 for each dead victim.

The opposition party Chama cha Demokrasia (Chadema) youth wing sent a message of condolence, but said police should explain why underage children were allowed into the disco hall, contrary to law.

“Police must make sure that all the laws, including that barring children from going to clubs, are enforced,” read a statement issued in Dar es Salaam and signed by Mr John Mnyika.

Legal action must be taken against all those who will be found guilty, said Mr Mnyika, the general secretary of the Chadema youth wing.

Tabora residents, who spoke to The citizen, said they had filed complaints against the club with the local authorities but no action had been taken.

Mr Okonyo Galasi, who lost two children, said parents had written a letter to the local cultural officer complaining that the club posed a danger to the residents.

“First the club is along the Tabora highway and is often packed though its ventilation is not good,” said Mr Galasi.

National Assembly Speaker Sitta sent his condolences, as did his wife, Mrs Magreth Sitta, who is the minister of Community Development Children and Gender.

Others included the minister of state in the Prime Minister’s office TAMISEMI, Ms Selina Kombani, the Deputy Minister of Defence and Tanzania People�s Defence Force (TPDF), Mr Emmanuel Nchimbi, MPs from Tabora region and the CCM Secretary-General, Mr Yusufu Makamba.

TheCitizen Newspaper

Continue reading »]]> JODHPUR, India (AP) — At least 168 people were killed and 100 injured when thousands of pilgrims stampeded Tuesday at a Hindu temple in the historic town of Jodhpur in western India, officials said.

Severe overcrowding apparently caused the crush as more than 12,000 people gathered at the temple to celebrate a Hindu festival, Jodhpur Police Superintendent Malini Agarwal said.

At least 168 people were killed in the stampede, said Naresh Pal Gangwar, the district collector.

The stampede apparently began as false rumors of a bomb spread among the crowd, said Ramesh Vyas, a pilgrim who was standing in line. India has been hit by a spate of recent bomb attacks, the latest on Monday night in the western city of Malegaon.

Television footage from Jodhpur showed dozens of bodies lying on the sidewalk, while nearby frantic people tried to revive unconscious devotees, slapping their faces and pressing on their chests.

Others dragged people by their arms and legs, running down a ramp that leads to the temple inside the massive 15th century Mehrangarh fort that overlooks the town.

One child sat on the ground next to the body of a woman, rubbing her forehead and crying “mother, mother.”

“Several people fell down as the floor became slippery with thousands of devotees breaking coconuts for offering at the temple,” said Ramesh Vyas, a witness.

The injured have been admitted to half a dozen hospitals in Jodhpur.

Thousands had gathered at the temple at dawn Tuesday to mark the first day of Navratra, a nine-day Hindu festival to honor the Mother Goddess.

Jodhpur is some 180 miles (290 kilometers) southwest of the Rajasthan state capital of Jaipur.

The Mehrangarh fort is one of the town’s biggest tourist attractions with its huge walls, ornate interiors and views overlooking Jodhpur’s “blue city.”

Deadly stampedes are a relatively common occurrence at temples in India, where large crowds — sometimes hundreds of thousands of people — congregate in small areas lacking facilities to control big gatherings.

In August, 145 people were killed when rumors of an avalanche sparked a stampede at a hilltop temple in northern India.

The Associated Press: 168 killed in stampede at Hindu temple in India

Continue reading »]]> JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) — At least 21 people were crushed to death Sunday during a cash handout in an eastern Indonesian town.

The people — mostly women, children and the elderly — had lined up in the town of Pasuruan, about 500 miles (804 kilometers) from the capital, to accept 40,000 rupiah ($4.25) each from a wealthy businessman.

Cash handouts are common in the Muslim country during the Islamic month of fasting, Ramadan.

stampede ensued after panic broke out, pushing some into a fence, local media reports said.

“The local government had no prior knowledge of this handout, therefore the necessary personnel needed to secure the process was not in place,” said Pasuruan mayor Aminurrohman, who like many Indonesians go by one name.