At least seven people lost their lives and numerous others were injured in a tragic stampede at a music concert held at the Stade des Martyrs stadium in Kinshasa on Saturday.
The incident occurred during a performance by popular Congolese gospel singer Mike Kalambayi.
Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba confirmed the fatalities and reported that several critically injured individuals are receiving intensive care.
While the exact cause of the stampede remains under investigation, local music management company Maajabu Gospel attributed the chaos to security forces attempting to subdue disruptive attendees.
The concert, organized by Maajabu Gospel, drew an estimated crowd of 30,000 people, with several other musicians and pastors performing.
Disturbing videos circulating online captured the chaotic scene, showing large crowds gathered outside the stadium and a surge of people towards the stage.
This is not the first time a deadly stampede has occurred at the Stade des Martyrs.
In October of last year, eleven people perished in a similar incident during another music concert.
The recurring tragedies have raised serious concerns about crowd management and safety protocols at large events in the country.
As investigations into the latest incident continue, authorities are working to determine the factors that contributed to the stampede and to prevent such tragedies from happening again.