Mawazine stampede

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During the Mawazine festival in Rabat in late May 2009, a stampede at the Hay Nahda stadium killed 11 people and injured about 40. The tragedy happened as fans were leaving after a free concert by Abdelaziz Stati, when a wire fence collapsed and the crowd of about 70,000 rushed for exits. The late start of the concert and crowds from other shows drew more people to the stadium. The dead were five women, four men, and two teenagers, all Moroccan, who died from suffocation after being crushed. Eight others were seriously injured, and seven remained in hospital the next day. Survivors were pulled from the wreckage. Rabat’s governor blamed attendees for trying to climb over barriers, while a wounded spectator questioned why police doors were shut. About 3,000 police were on duty. Maroc Cultures expressed sorrow; King Mohammed VI offered to cover funeral and hospital costs; the interior ministry said it would investigate.