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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Reno Surya in Malang

Indonesia stadium disaster: only four paramedics were on standby inside grounds

People pay their respects to the victims at Kanjuruhan stadium in Malang on Friday following a stampede that killed at least 131 people in one of the deadliest disasters in football history.
People pay their respects to the victims at Kanjuruhan stadium in Malang on Friday following a stampede that killed at least 131 people in one of the deadliest disasters in football history. Photograph: Juni Kriswanto/AFP/Getty Images

Only four paramedics were on standby inside the football stadium in Indonesia where 131 people were killed in a crowd crush, with a further 12 nearby, the head of the local public health office has said, promising a thorough evaluation of the response.

The match was not considered to be a high-risk event because only fans of Arema, the home side, were present, said Wiyanto Wijoyo, the head of Malang regency public health office. Supporters of the opposing team, Persebaya Surabaya, who won the match, had been banned as a precaution to prevent violence between rival fans.

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