At Least 24 Dead in Guinea Rap Concert Stampede
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - At least 24 people died and dozens more were hurt in a stampede at a rap concert on a beach in the Guinean capital Conakry, prompting a week of national mourning.
The government said the west African country suffered a "tragedy" a day after Guineans celebrated the Eid al-Fitr holiday ending the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
The authorities gave no details on how the stampede occurred on Rogbane beach in the city's northern Ratoma suburb where popular Guinean rap group "Instinct Killers" was playing among other artists.
Medics took at least 24 bodies including 13 girls to a hospital morgue at Donka, a hospital official told AFP.
"For the time being we have 24 bodies at the Donka hospital morgue and dozens of injured were rushed to various (Conakry) health centeres after this deadly stampede," said a police officer.
The president's office said in a statement it was "shocked by the tragedy caused by (crowd) movements at a cultural event".
It said there were dead and injured but did not give a toll. "A week of national mourning has been decreed from this day," it added.
An investigation has been launched to determine what caused the stampede. The official in charge of organising such events was suspended.
The tragedy, which comes as the country of 10 million struggles to cope with a deadly Ebola epidemic, is not the first of its kind to occur in Conakry.
