6 dead, dozens hurt in Italy nightclub stampede

Six people, including five teenagers, died and 120 were injured in a stampede when panic broke out in a rap concert at an Italian nightclub early on Saturday.

The suspected use of a pepper spray-like substance is believed to have sparked the chaos at the venue in Corinaldo, near Ancona in Italy. “The cause may have been the dispersal of a stinging substance, the young people fled and trampled over each other. Sadly, six died and dozens are injured,” the fire service said in a statement on Twitter.

The victims include five people under the age of 18— three girls and two boys— and an adult woman who accompanied her daughter to the concert.

Local fire chief Dino Poggiali said 14 of the injured were serious, and 40 less serious. As the crowd panicked, people ran for the three emergency exits, one of which led to a small bridge and the car park.

The force of the fleeing crowd made a railing collapse and dozens fell, crushing others, as per a preliminary probe. Grainy phone footage appeared to show part of a walkway collapsing, sending dozens of people tumbling down. Ironically, those who remained inside the nightclub were unharmed. “We were dancing and waiting for the concert to start when we smelt this pungent odour,” a 16year-old boy said.