Boxing Match Stampede Kills 17

Rioting breaks out at packed stadium in Indonesia
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 15, 2013 12:16 AM CDT
Boxing Match Stampede Kills 17
Relatives mourn around the bodies of Yanus Manibui and Anance Woyaa, who were victims in a stampede at Kota Lama Sport Stadium in Nabire, Papua province, Indonesia, Monday, July 15, 2013.   (AP Photo)

When fans disagreed over scoring at an Indonesian boxing match yesterday, a fight broke out—followed by a stampede to exit the stadium that left at least 17 dead and 39 injured, Reuters reports. Most of the dead were women. Some 1,500 attended the match in Papua province, though the stadium capacity was only 800, the BBC reports, and the venue had just two working exits.

"There were military and police personnel present in the stadium, but with so many people panicking ... the situation quickly got out of control," says a police official. Backers of the match's loser threw chairs at fans of the winner. So far, there are no suspects in the incident, but 13 people are being questioned. (More boxing stories.)

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