Seven children as well as i adult were killed inward a stampede at Malawi's national stadium on Th every bit large crowds gathered for independence hateful solar daytime celebrations, constabulary said.
The stampede occurred when gates were opened at the 40,000-seat Bingu stadium inward the upper-case missive of the alphabet Lilongwe for a presidential address as well as football game gibe to grade the annual holiday.
"Eight people -- 7 children aged or thus viii years old, as well as i adult died," national constabulary spokesman James Kadadzera told AFP.
He said 62 people had been injured as well as were receiving handling at Lilongwe's original hospital.
"My authorities volition create all it tin to aid the bereaved families," President Peter Mutharika said at an independence hateful solar daytime prayer meeting.
"We are mourning amongst you."
Mutharika cancelled his traditional independence hateful solar daytime vocalism communication as well as skipped the football game match.
He instead visited the injured inward infirmary as well as consoled families that were collecting their dead relatives from the morgue, presidential spokesman Mgeme Kalilani told AFP.
Kalilani said the gibe betwixt local giants Nyasa Big Bullets as well as Silver Strikers would become ahead to avoid disappointing thousands of fans who "had travelled from far to come upwards as well as sentry the game."
Sports Minister Henry Mussa was amid the dignitaries that watched the game .
Malawi, thus known every bit Nyasaland, won independence from British colonial dominion inward 1964.
Independence hateful solar daytime is marked annually amongst armed forces parades, fireworks, music concerts, prayers as well as sports.
AFP