In what appears to be one of the deadliest stadium mishaps in history, a stampede during a riot resulted in at least 129 fatalities and 180 injuries at a football event in Indonesia, according to police on Sunday.
After the match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya in the East Java province finished on Saturday night, fans of the losing club flooded the field. Police then sprayed tear gas into the crowd, causing a stampede and cases of suffocation, according to East Java police head Nico Afinta.
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People were seen rushing onto the field of the stadium in Malang in video footage from local TV networks, along with pictures of body bags.
There have been previous incidents of unrest at games in Indonesia, and fierce rivalries between clubs have occasionally resulted in fan violence.
Also read: Indonesia Kanjuruhan Stadium stampede: 129 dead as fans exit football match
Where is Kanjuruhan Stadium?
In Indonesia’s Malang Regency (East Java), Stadion Kanjuruhan or Kanjuruhan Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium. At present, primarily football games are held there. The stadium holds a capacity of 38,000 people. Arema, a Liga 1 football team, call it their home ground. Persekam Metro Kabupaten Malang of Liga 3 also uses it.
The stadium was built in 1997 at an estimated cost of Rp35 billion. The stadium was opened for use by President Megawati Soekarnoputri on June 9, 2004.
Also read: Indonesia stadium stampede: See fans clash after Persebaya Surabaya-Arema Malang match
Arema and PSS Sleman played a trial match in the middle of the 2004 Indonesian First League Division to commemorate the opening of the stadium owned by the Malang Regency Government. Arema won the inaugural game played at the Kanjuruhan Stadium 1-0.
For the 2010 AFC Champions League, the stadium underwent additional renovations in order to increase lighting power.