The stampede that rocked the public viewing of Tanzanian President John Magufuli’s body at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam claimed the lives of 45 people.

Tanzanian police on Tuesday said 37 others were wounded when hundreds of mourners tried to force their way into the venue to pay last respects to Magufuli on March 21.

“These people were not criminals,” Dar es Salaam Special Police Zone Commander Lazaro Mambosasa told a Tanzanian publication on Tuesday on the chaotic public viewing.

He added, “They went to the stadium to express their love for their departed leader but because the number of people was huge, some became impatient and opted to use unofficial entry points to get into the stadium.”

The late Magufuli, who reportedly died from heart complications, was buried on Friday at his Chato home after passing away on March 17 and was succeeded by his VP Samia Suluhu.

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