Independence Day stampede kills seven children in Malawi

A stampede at Independence Day celebrations in Malawi on Thursday killed eight people, of which seven were children, and injured 42 others.

The stampede occurred at the Bingu football stadium in capital Lilongwe when people crowded to get in to watch a football match, which was part of the celebrations planned for the day, reports Anadolu News agency

Malawi marked 53 years of independence from British rule with thanksgiving prayers, where President Peter Mutharika and other top government officials were in attendance.

The prayers had to be stopped to observe a minute of silence to honour the dead.

-ANI