Police Chief Arrives in Malang to Review Scene of Kanjuhuran Football Tragedy

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo arrived at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang District, East Java, on Sunday to review the scene of tragedy which left 130 people dead and 180 others injured in a riot and stampede following a football match the day before.

"The National Police chief will review the stadium and later visit victims who are receiving medical treatment," Chief of the Public Relations Division at the National Police Inspector General Dedi Prasetyo said.

During the visit, Prabowo and Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali. will evaluate the implementation of football match and investigate the cause of the human tragedy, he said.

"The National Police chief will hold a meeting with the youth and sports minister and the local government. The outcome of the meeting will be evaluated first before being announced to the media," he said.

The National Police chief has earlier sent a disaster victim identification (DVI) team to Malang District to mobilize all doctors of Bhayangkara Police Hospitals in Malang, Kediri and Surabaya to accelerate the process of identifying the bodies of people killed in the tragedy and provide medical services to the people injured in the tragedy.

The police are focusing on identifying the dead victims so that their bodies could be handed over to their families soon, and cooperating with the local medical team to provide the best services so that the number of casualties will not increase, he said.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has instructed National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo to conduct a thorough investigation into the tragedy that killed 130 people and injured some 180 others following a football game at Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang District, East Java Province, on Saturday evening.

"Specially to the Police Chief, I ask for a thorough investigation and probe into the case," the President said while delivering a press statement at Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java Province, on Sunday.

The President expressed his deep condolences for the tragedy that occurred after the League 1 football match between Arema FC of Malang and Persebaya of Surabaya.

Arema FC supporters at Kanjuruhan Stadium stormed the pitch after their team lost 2-3 to Persebaya. Police responded with tear gas that triggered a stampede.

East Java Regional Police Chief Inspector General Nico Afinta in a press statement on Sunday morning, said that Arema FC supporters were disappointed and so they stormed the pitch to look for players and officials.

According to Nico Afinta, the tear gas was fired because the angry supporters could endanger the football players and officials.

"Because of the tear gas, they rushed to an exit point and triggered a stampede as they suffered shortness of breath, lack of oxygen," Nico Afinta said.

ANTARA

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News