The death toll from an Indonesian football match riot and subsequent stampede jumped to 174 on Sunday, reports AFP.
East Java deputy governor Emil Dardak told local broadcaster Kompas TV that at 9:30 am (0230 GMT) the death toll was 158, at 10:30 am the figure rose to 174 deaths, according to the data collected by the East Java disaster mitigation agency.
Riots broke out after the game ended Saturday evening with host Arema FC of East Java’s Malang city losing to Persebaya of Surabaya 3-2.
Being disappointed at the loss of their supported team, thousands of supporters of Arema, known as “Aremania,” reacted by throwing bottles and other objects at players and officials. Fans flooded the Kanjuruhan Stadium pitch in protest and demanded that Arema management explain why, after 23 years of undefeated home games, this match ended in a loss, witnesses said.
The rioting spread outside the stadium where at least five police vehicles were toppled and set ablaze amid the chaos. Riot police responded by firing tear gas, including toward the stadium's stands, causing panic among the crowd, though tear gas is banned at soccer stadiums by FIFA.
Some suffocated and others were trampled as hundreds of people ran into the exit in an effort to avoid the tear gas. In the chaos, 34 died at the stadium, including two officers, and some reports include children among the casualties.
Indonesia’s soccer association, known as PSSI, has suspended the premier soccer league Liga 1 indefinitely in light of the tragedy and banned Arema from hosting soccer matches for the remainder of the season.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
