NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- At least seven people died when fans without tickets pushed their way into a soccer game in Nairobi, officials said.
The incident happened Saturday at Nyayo National Stadium during a game between rivals AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia, and left an unknown number of fans injured, CNN reported Sunday.
"Some people piled in one gate because they didn't have tickets," said Frank Okoth, a manager at Kenyan Premier League. "It was raining heavily, and they found a gate with a weak structure, so they pushed through it."
Officials said one young woman died because emergency vehicles were unable to get through the mob of fans. Another official said a gate to allow emergency vehicles entrance to the stadium was shut.
"There were very many people at the stadium and when it started raining, they were struggling to get into the VIP center stand, causing the stampede," said Dr. Andrew Suleh of the Kenyan Premier League medical department. "The main gate was packed with people and it was impossible for the ambulances to get through."
The Sunday Nation, Nairobi, said a spectator rushed onto the field to alert game officials about the stampede.
The spectator tried to "get the referee to stop the match because ... people are being crushed to death," a statement on the soccer league's Web site said.
The match resumed after a temporary interruption. Gor Mahia defeated the Leopards, 1-0.
