Madagascar stadium crush injures dozens

ANTANANARIVO - Forty-seven people were injured on Sunday, many with cracked ribs and skulls, in a crush at an overcrowded soccer stadium in Madagascar's capital, doctors said.

The stadium was at full capacity of 50,000 people when hundreds of fans waiting outside to watch Madagascar's USJF Ravinala play South Africa's Kaizer Chiefs pushed their way in.

Scores of people were hurt in the ensuing panic when the stadium became severely overcrowded.

"We've received 47 people today from this accident," Odile Ralisoa, a doctor at Antananarivo's Ravohongy hospital, told Reuters. "Three are in critical condition, six are comatose. Fifteen in total have very serious injuries. "

Ralisoa said many of the injured had fallen and were crushed by others falling on top of them.

"There are many people with skull fractures and broken ribs," she said.

"We are understaffed but we are doing our best. "

Police said they could not comment ahead of an official inquiry into the accident.

- REUTERS