A stampede at Madagascar's national stadium during the opening ceremony of the Indian Ocean Island Games has killed 12 people and injured approximately 80 others.

The incident occurred as sports enthusiasts attempted to enter the stadium. Red Cross personnel were on-site, providing aid to numerous injured individuals near the athletics track. Regrettably, 11 of those injured are currently in critical condition.

This unfortunate event is not the first instance of a deadly stampede occurring at this stadium. Videos circulating on social media depicted the efforts of Red Cross workers as they tended to the wounded. Prime Minister Christian Ntsay, speaking from a hospital in the capital city of Antananarivo, expressed that the situation is dire for those critically injured. The exact cause of the stampede remains unclear.

The Indian Ocean Island Games is a multi-sport event held every four years among the island nations and territories of Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar, Mayotte, Réunion and the Maldives. The games are scheduled to run from August 25 to September 5.

The stampede is a tragedy for the people of Madagascar and for the athletes who were participating in the games. It is also a reminder of the dangers of overcrowding and the importance of crowd control measures.

The investigation into the cause of the stampede is ongoing. (ILKHA)