At least 37 young Congolese were killed in a mass panic during an army recruitment operation in the capital Brazzaville on the night of Monday to Tuesday, Congolese authorities said on Tuesday.
“The preliminary number determined by the emergency services shows 37 dead and many injured,” says a press release from the crisis team set up by Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso, calling it a “drama”.
Numerous images shared on social networks show dozens of lifeless corpses dumped in the municipal mortuary, as well as injured people admitted to the University Hospital (CHU) of Brazzaville and the military hospital.
The Congolese army announced last week the recruitment of 1,500 young people aged 18 to 25 into its ranks.
Late Monday evening, candidates stormed the gate of the Michel d’Ornano Stadium in downtown Brazzaville, where recruitment is taking place.
There was a stampede in which many people fell and were trampled, residents said.
According to relatives, some of the injured are in serious condition.