I Coast: Many factors caused stampede
2013-01-07 09:06
Abidjan - Officials say that the New Year's stampede in
Ivory Coast which killed 64 people was caused by a combination of several
factors including unofficial tree trunk barricades, the narrowing of a major
thoroughfare, bad lighting and a shortage of police officers.
Abidjan prosecutor Simplice Kouadio announced the
preliminary findings of a police investigation on state television on Saturday
night.
According to the report, a "human wave" of people
leaving a New Year's fireworks display was confronted by a group of people
going in the opposite direction on the Boulevard de la Republique by the
Houphouet Boigny stadium.
Police interviewed 31 people including the injured, families
of victims, fire-fighters, doctors, the district governor of Abidjan and the
Commissioner of Police. The prosecutor said criminal proceedings will be
initiated against any perpetrators.
- AP
