Maputo - At least 10 people have died and
98 were injured in a stampede at a campaign rally of
Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi, health authorities said on
Thursday.
Nampula Central Hospital management's said the deaths and
injuries occurred when a crowd tried to move through a single
gate of a stadium in the city of Nampula, northern Mozambique,
where the rally was being held on Wednesday. People were
trampled on as they attempted to leave the facility.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the hospital's
director Cachimo Molina said 98 people were admitted for care at
the health unit and all but 14 were later discharged. Eight have
been in intensive care.
"With regard to the clinical situation of patients who
entered yesterday after the incident, all are stabilized,"
Molina said.
Mozambican Interior Minister Basilio Monteiro announced the
creation of a commission of inquiry to investigate the cause of
the incident.
Mozambique is currently in its second week of election
campaigning ahead of the Oct. 15 general elections, when Nyusi
of the ruling Frelimo party is hoping to secure a second term.
According to the Public Integrity Centre's initial
monitoring of the campaign "a dozen people were killed in the
first week of the campaign (10 due to traffic accidents and 2 to
political violence) and 29 have been injured (16 in traffic
incidents and 13 in political violence)."
"Our correspondents also report at least 33 arrests, most
related to destroying posters of other parties. These cases are
from 31 August through 6 September".