Around 170 people died and about 180 were injured in a stampede after fans crowded a football match in the province of East Java overnight. The incident occurred during a football match of Indonesian top league BRI Liga 1 at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang Regency, Reuters reported.
Fans invaded the pitch after a match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya. Fans f the losing team Arema FC were among most who entered the pitch when the police used tear gas, triggering the stampede and cases of suffocation.
Investigations have been launched and the Indonesian top league BRI Liga 1 has suspended games for a week.
Indonesia's police chief in East Java province, Nico Afinta told the BBC, "Thirty-four people died inside the stadium and the rest died in hospital." "It had gotten anarchic. They started attacking officers, they damaged cars," he added.
Indonesia has previously witnessed trouble at football matches due to strong rivalry between clubs leading to violence.
