61 die in stampede following fireworks

At least 61 people were killed in a stampede following a New Year’s Eve fireworks display in Abidjan, Ivory Coast’s commercial centre, officials yesterday said.

The death toll is expected to rise, according to rescue workers.

The majority of those killed were young people aged between eight and 15 who were trampled after the festivities in Abidjan’s Plateau district, at about 1am local time yesterday, said Colonel Issa Sako, of the fire department rescue team.