The Indonesian Police (Polri) Headquarters deployed a Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team to assist the East Java Regional Police to identify victims of a violence and stampede that occurred after a football match between Arema FC and Persebaya in Malang District, East Java Province on Saturday evening.
"The National Police Headquarters sends a DVI team to Malang to coordinate with the East Java Regional Police’s DVI team and local hospitals to expedite (victim) identification," Head for Public Information Section of the Polri’s Public Relations Division Senior Commissioner Nurul Azizah informed here on Sunday.
The match was held at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang District, East Java Province, on Saturday (October 1, 2022) evening.
Azizah said that the team sent by the Polri would help in identifying the dead bodies as well as providing medical treatment to the injured victims.
The unrest was triggered by the disappointment of Aremania – the supporters of Arema FC – after the team was defeated by their guest with a score of 2-3.
The fans entered the pitch and chased down a number of players and officials of Arema FC. They also threw some flares and destroyed a number of facilities.
As the riot went bigger, the police decided to used tear gases to dismiss the supporters. Some of them were injured and got fainted due to the lack of oxygen while attempting to leave the stadium.
Chief of East Java Regional Police Inspector General Nico Afinta noted in a press conference in Malang, on Sunday, that the incident claimed 127 lives, including two police personnel. The East Java authorities later updated that the death toll reached 129.
He continued that 34 people died at the stadium, while the rest passed away while being treated at a number of local hospitals.
As of Sunday morning, at least 180 people were still undergoing treatment at some hospitals in Malang.
Furthermore, 13 vehicles were damaged, including 10 police’s vehicles.
Afinta informed that out of the 40 thousand spectators of the match, around 3 thousand supporters involved in the unrest. (*)
Editor : Abdullah Rifai
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