19 die in disco stampede

2008-10-02 07:43

Dar es Salaam - At least 19 people died and several wounded Wednesday after a stampede inside a disco in central Tanzania, police told state television.

"According to preliminary investigations, The 19 died of stampede and suffocation in the disco hall," Tabora regional police commander Daudi Siasi told the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC).

"The stampede was caused by (a) commotion in the disco."

The incident occured in the remote Tabora region, 750km northwest of the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, where a large number of youths had gathered for Eid al-Fitr festivities marking the end of Ramadan.

Those who died were aged between 12 and 17 years.

Saisi said several people were injured and taken to Tobora town's hospitals, where some were either admitted and others treated then allowed to go home.

"Several injured people were rushed to nearby hospitals," he said, without elaborating.

"The town is in a sombre mood as a result the incident," he said, adding that police had launched investigations into what had caused the stampede.

- AFP