Indonesia: 18 Killed in Boxing Match Stampede and Riots, Over 40 Injured

All hell broke loose when an amateur boxing match in Indonesia's Papua province on Sunday night, turned hostile killing 18 people most of which were women.

According to reports, clashes and a massive brawl ensued between supporters of rival teams after a discrepancy in the scores.

The judges declared local boxer Alvius Rumkorem as the winner which did not go down with opposition Yulius Pigome's supporters.

Pigome's supporters calling the decision foul, turned violent throwing bottles and broken chairs at judges. And no sooner the winning side joined in resulting in a deadly riot.

This led to panic among 1,500 spectators present in the Kota Lama Sport Stadium, who tried to rush out of the two exits resulting in stampede and death.

"The government is mourning the death of 18 people. We are asking police and military officials to help restore public order and security in Nabire," Djoko Suyanto, the Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs, told Jakarta Globe on Monday,

While Agence France Presse (AFP) reported out of the 18 victims, 12 were women.

Papua Police spokesman I Gede Sumerta Jaya said atleast 15 are in critical condition. He added the deceased bodies were taken to the nearby Nabire Regional hospital on Sunday.

A similar incident was reported in 2011, when a stampede during football match of the South east Asian Games at Jakarta Stadium killed two persons.