Скачать или смотреть ZIMBABWE: STAMPEDE IN SOCCER STADIUM AFTERMATH

(10 Jul 2000) Natural/English/Spanish/Swedish
XFA
At least 12 people are dead after a stampede on Sunday in a soccer stadium in Zimbabwe.

The tragedy happened after police fired tear gas at bottle-throwing fans during a World Cup qualifier in Harare between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Players and fans from both teams choked and writhed on the field, covering their faces as tear gas spread through the stadium.

The victims were rushed to the Parirenyatwa hospital where 12 were declared dead on arrival.

At least four others were reported to be in a critical condition - dozens more were treated for other injuries.

A doctor said most of the deaths were from internal injures consistent with being crushed.

Anxious relatives waiting for news gathered outside the hospital's emergency ward.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I mean how many people died at this hospital I couldn't tell you because I mean the people some of them were brought in dead but the other ones are receiving treatment. We don't what the outcome of it is going to be. Some of them are seriously injured but we hope they will get better."
SUPER CAPTION: Davison Sadza, head of the Parirenyatwa hospital

Fans hurled bottles and other items onto the field after South Africa scored its second goal in the 84th minute, giving the visitors a 2-0 lead.

Police then fired tear gas at the crowd of more than 50-thousand.

The stampede broke out as the fans scrambled to leave the National Sports Stadium.

A fire hydrant was torn from its mountings, spraying water over fleeing fans.

Stadium officials reportedly called the police response a total overreaction.

The game was called off with 10 minutes left but South Africa's 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe was ruled official.

This marked the fourth time in four years there were crowd deaths at a World Cup qualifier.

Nine were crushed during a stampede in Zambia in 1996.

At least 78 were killed in a stampede that October at Guatemala City, and at least three died this past April 23 in Liberia in an overcrowded stadium.

The violence came three days after South Africa was denied in its bid to become the first African country to hold the World Cup.

The game was one of eight World Cup qualifiers, all in Africa, on Sunday.

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