Dozens of fans crushed to death in Guinea football match: report

Dozens of people have been crushed to death after clashes at a football match in N'zérékoré, Guinea's second-largest city, BBC reports citing local media.

Several people were killed as a crowd stampede, Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah said on Monday.

"The government deplores the incidents that marred the football match between the Labé and N'zérékoré teams this afternoon in N'zérékoré. During the stampede, victims were recorded," Bah said in a statement on Facebook.

He said local authorities are working to restore order.

Several bodies were "lined up" in the local hospital, and the morgue was full, a doctor, wishing not to be named, told AFP.

Police used tear gas after supporters of the visiting team, Labé, threw stones towards the pitch in anger at the referee, local media reports.

No official casualty figures have been given as yet.

"It all started with a contested decision by the referee. Then fans invaded the pitch," one witness told AFP.

Videos and images on social media showed chaotic scenes outside the stadium, with large crowds attempting to climb over walls and numerous bodies on the ground.

The BBC said it has not been able to independently verify these videos.

Thousands of spectators were present when the crush happened at a match between Guinean teams N'zérékoré and Labé, local news website MediaGuinee reported.

It said Sunday's match was part of a tournament in honour of President Mamadi Doumbouya, who seized power in a coup in September 2021.