Dozens killed in Ivory Coast fireworks stampede

[NewsCaster]

By ReutersABIDJAN, Ivory Coast -- About 60 people were crushed to death in a stampede outside a stadium in Ivory Coast's main city of Abidjan after a New Year's Eve fireworks display, the government said on Tuesday.

The incident took place near Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium where a crowd had gathered to watch fireworks, emergency officials said.

Follow @NBCNewsWorld One of the injured, speaking to Reuters at a hospital, said security forces had arrived to break up the crowd, triggering a panic in which many people fell over and were trampled.

"The provisional death toll is 60 and there are 49 injured," Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko said in a statement broadcast on national television.

NBCNews

[KingFemzee]

Why would the security forces prevent the people from watching fireworks display in the first instance. Its so sad, its an unecessary loss.