At least 56 killed in 'stampedes' at Guinea football match

Conakry: At least 56 people were killed in deadly stampedes at a football match in Guinea s second largest city of N Zerekore, a statement from the...

Conakry: At least 56 people were killed in "deadly stampedes" at a football match in Guinea's second-largest city of N'Zerekore, a statement from the government said Monday.

"Protests of dissatisfaction with refereeing decisions led to stone-throwing by supporters, resulting in fatal stampedes" at Sunday's match, the government statement said, which was published as a news ticker on national television. "Hospital services have put the provisional death toll at 56."

"There are bodies lined up as far as the eye can see in the hospital. Others are lying on the floor in the hallways. The morgue is full," one doctor said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

He said "there are around 100 dead", with bodies filling the local hospital and morgue. Another doctor said there were "dozens of dead".

Videos circulating on social media, which AFP was unable to immediately verify, showed scenes of chaos in the street outside the match and numerous bodies lying on the ground.