At least nine people died and several others were injured during a live concert in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, according to the country’s health minister.

Gospel singer and pastor Mike Kalambay was performing at the 80,000-seater Martyrs Stadium in the capital, Kinshasa, when the tragedy occurred. Photos from the event show scenes of severe overcrowding.

Among the deceased is a 10-year-old child, as reported by local media. The governor of Kinshasa, Daniel Bumba, has attributed the disaster to “excesses and crowd movements.”

DR Congo’s justice minister has ordered an investigation and called for the questioning of police officers who were present and the event organizer, Maajabu Gospel.

In a statement following the concert, Maajabu Gospel expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and blamed “troublemakers” for the chaos, noting that 2,000 police officers were deployed to manage the situation. The organizers claimed there were about 30,000 attendees, significantly fewer than the stadium’s maximum capacity.

The Martyrs Stadium, a major landmark and one of Africa’s largest venues, is now closed until further notice. It regularly hosts significant events, including concerts, football matches, and President Félix Tshisekedi’s swearing-in ceremony.

In response to Saturday’s incident, Kinshasa city authorities have called for enhanced security measures and urged event organizers to comply with safety regulations.

Unfortunately, such incidents are not uncommon in DR Congo. In 2022, a stadium crush at the same venue during a concert by Congolese star Fally Ipupa resulted in 11 fatalities.