Ivory Coast mourns 60 killed in New Year's stampede
People stand next to clothing and various items spread over the pavement at the scene of a stampede in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Tuesday.
January 1st, 2013
03:44 PM ET

Ivory Coast mourns 60 killed in New Year's stampede

[Updated 3:44 p.m. ET] Ivory Coast's president has declared three days of national mourning after a New Year's Day stampede that killed 60 people.

The horror unfolded about 1 a.m. after a New Year's Eve fireworks show in Abidjan, the West African country's largest city and former capital. The dead included 26 children, 28 women and six men, Youth Minister Alain Lobognon reported via Twitter.

Many of the victims were trampled on or suffocated by the surging crowd, a senior fire official said on national television. Rescue workers were at the scene two hours later but could not save the victims, the official AIP news agency said.

President Alassane Ouattara promised a speedy investigation.

"The president of the republic offers his saddest condolences to the families and close relations of the victims and ensures them of his compassion in those painful circumstances," Ouattara's office said in a statement issued Tuesday night.

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soundoff (13 Responses)
  1. Gibbs

    Ban fireworks

    January 1, 2013 at 6:39 am | Report abuse |
  2. Cindy

    It's heartbreaking. What a way to start off the New Year! God bless you all and RIP.

    January 1, 2013 at 6:42 am | Report abuse |
  3. Really

    AFTER watching the fireworks? Were they so bad the crowd had to kill kids to get away from them? And SIXTY kids? I would think after someone tripped over the first 40 bodies someone would have said something.

    January 1, 2013 at 6:45 am | Report abuse |
  4. pnbmedia

    Yea lets have a fireworks buyback get these deadly devices out of the hands of these pyros.

    January 1, 2013 at 6:45 am | Report abuse |
    • Robert E. Butler

      That's right, lets use the deaths of children to score points on an unrelated topic.

      January 1, 2013 at 6:55 am | Report abuse |
    • s kel

      Keep your stupid pro gun message to youself, this is tragic!

      January 1, 2013 at 11:44 am | Report abuse |
  5. Joey Isotta-Fraschini ©™

    Where is the training that teaches phrases like, "walk, do not run, to the nearest exit," and, "never shout 'fire' in a crowded theatre?"

    January 1, 2013 at 8:00 am | Report abuse |
  6. hpoguillem

    This is a disaster. This is like five kindergarten classes suddenly gone. How did it happen?

    January 1, 2013 at 9:20 am | Report abuse |
  7. Hide Behind

    Used to be a time when people could read and the newspapers had people that could read, write, and ask intelligent questions.
    They were not just reporters or correspondents most were journalist and tried to give readership an understanding of event, not so today.
    This news is no more than internet copy of local official news release by that government's officials.
    If one wants in depth reporting go to society page where yhey dig deep even into crotch level events.

    January 1, 2013 at 11:35 am | Report abuse |
  8. Hide Behind

    CNN is not a news organization; It started out that way and at one time it was putting all three majors to shame as it had best non corporate journalist in world contributing to it.
    It was during the Panama Noriega affair that they became a political pawn and the dollars rolled in.
    Their last real journalistic triumph was in Iraq one where a journalist dtayed and later was squashed by his vollegues and the one who ran to safety with tail between his legs became their favorite poodle.
    CNN is in the corporate entertainment industry and as an official mouthpiece for whatever politicsl or fiinancial powers want made public they are survivors and play the game well.

    January 1, 2013 at 12:37 pm | Report abuse |
  9. the prophet

    So much injustice avery where, avery citie, avery communiti, avery home, and avery nation. People of the world join me the prophet in the mission for one world peaple, peaceful spread the word and faith. Our mission to eradicate evil from governments sponsored terror, our cities, communities, homes. nations, continents.

    January 1, 2013 at 1:46 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Hide Behind

    There has always been injustice in this world and religious organizations have been some of largest causes of it, and they included the judeo/ christians since their beginnings.
    Their temples mosques, chapel or whatever have been seats of injustice forever.
    Todays christanity reminds me of Hindu fable: A mouse has its tail trapped under an elephants foot andis squeaking for help, a christian passing by bends dowm and shows his sympathy with a prayer and walks away. The elephant trainer who doesn,t believe in god hears the mouse and then whacks the elephant on its ass with a heavy stick. This causes the elephant to roar in pain and to lift his leg whereupon the mouse scurries away.
    Now who does the mouse thank for ending its pain?
    The world does not need those pious ones who bellow and cry out for sympathy for they the ones in pain want someone to quit wrining and folding their hands while asking for someone to do the job. No they don,t care if the relief comes by. Someone using a 2×4 between their tormentors eyes. Jist get the ellephant off of them.

    January 1, 2013 at 3:58 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Anders Behring Breivik (King of the Island)

    Yard talk here has it that Drogba's party had something to do with this?

    January 1, 2013 at 4:49 pm | Report abuse |
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