At least 123 people died after a stampede at a football stadium in the Ghanaian capital Accra, a statement by the health ministry said Thursday, a day after the tragedy.
The statement, however, underlined that some other bodies may have been taken home by relatives without the knowledge of hospital authorities.
It said 93 people had been admitted to hospitals and some of them discharged.
However, private radio stations put the toll from Africa's worst ever sports disaster at 130.
Accra has announced free medical treatment for the victims. Hospitals have started listing the names of the injured.
The tragedy occurred late Wednesday after a 2-1 victory by reigning league champions Hearts of Oak. Supporters of arch rivals Kumasi Ashanti Kotoko began to rip up seats at the Accra Sports stadium, hurling them onto the pitch.
In an attempt to quell the unrest, police fired rounds of tear gas into the stand where the fans were rioting, sparking a deadly stampede.
The government said it had banned instant burials to be able to determine the accurate number of victims.
(China Daily 05/10/2001)
