At Least 129 Dead After Stampede at Soccer Match in Indonesia, Police Say

At least 129 people are dead and around 180 other people are injured after a crowd stampede during a riot broke out at a soccer match in Indonesia, police said on Sunday.

The match between home team Arema FC and its rival, Persebaya Surabaya, was held at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Indonesia’s East Java province on Saturday night. Arema FC was defeated 2–3.

After the match ended, multiple people among the audience invaded the pitch. Fights broke out between the supporters of the two rival soccer teams. Riot police then fired tear gas which triggered panic, resulting in a stampede, East Java police chief Nico Afinta told reporters.

A torched car outside Kanjuruhan stadium in Malang, East Java on Oct. 2, 2022. (Putri/AFP via Getty Images)

More than 300 were rushed to nearby hospitals to treat injuries but many died on the way and during a treatment, Afinta said. He noted that many of the 180 injured people were deteriorating, which means the death toll may increase.

Video footage from local news channels showed people rushing onto the pitch in the stadium in Malang and images of body bags.

On social media, footage of the stampede showed people running toward and onto the stadium before scattering quickly as police enter the stadium, chasing after them while holding batons. The footage also showed smoke appearing suddenly on the soccer field, prompting people to scatter.

A group of people carry a man after a football match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya at Kanjuruhan stadium in Malang, East Java, Indonesia, on Oct. 1, 2022. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Hundreds of people ran to an exit gate in an effort to avoid the tear gas. Some suffocated in the chaos and others were trampled, killing 34 almost instantly.

Zainudin Amali, Indonesia’s sports minister, told KompasTV the ministry would re-evaluate safety at football matches, including considering not allowing spectators in stadiums.

Indonesia is to host the FIFA under-20 World Cup in May and June in 2023.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.