88 killed, over 200 injured in Philippine stampede

At least 88 people were killed and over 200 injured on Saturday in a stampede at a stadium near the Philippines capital Manila, where tens of thousands had queued up to watch a popular game show, similar to Kaun Banega Crorepati, in the worst mishap of this kind in the Philippines.

The incident took place at 9 am at Pasig, 15 kms from Manila, when the organisers of the game show announced that all entrances except one would be closed as thousands of people had lined up at the stadium to watch the game show Wowowee.

At least 88 people were killed and over 200 injured in the incident, according to Red Cross officials.

Philippines Vice President Noli de Castro, however, quoted as saying by the TV channels that 79 people had been killed and 201 injured.

Mayor of Pasig, Vicente Eusebio, said that the tragedy occurred as the crowd pushed towards the stadium gates thinking they were open.

The elimination round of the gameshow was going on in which cash prizes were being given to people giving correct answers to questions. Nearly 100,000 people were within and outside the Uldra Savia stadium at the time of the stampede, a government spokesman said.

The game show, which is aired on the ABS-CBN network, was celebrating its first anniversary and nearly 25,000 people lined up outside a stadium at dawn, when guards started distributing tickets.

According to police, the slope was very steep and, therefore, when one person stumbled, everyone else also fell. Many bodies have now been taken to a funeral parlour. 

The injured have been visited by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.