Human rights groups in Guinea said they believe more than 135 soccer fans were killed in a stampede at a stadium on Sunday, most of them children.
Unverified numbers, far exceed The official death toll is 56.
The groups said the estimate was based on information from hospitals, cemeteries, witnesses at the stadium, victims’ families, mosques, churches and local media. More than 50 others are still missing.
However, the military government has warned against spreading “unverified” information, saying its investigations are underway into the tragedy in the country’s second largest city, Nzérékoré.
Justice Minister Yaya Kaïraba Kaba said he had directed the opening of a judicial investigation into the alleged perpetrators.
He said anyone disseminating “unverified or malicious information” would be arrested and prosecuted.
The deadly incident occurred after a controversial decision by the referee during the match, which led to violence.
Police responded with tear gas as people tried to flee.
But human rights groups blame tournament organizers and Guinea’s ruling military junta, which staged the tournament in honor of President Mamady Doumboya, for the deaths.
The collective of rights groups in Nzérékoré said too much tear gas was used in a closed area, adding that vehicles carrying officials leaving the stadium also hit citizens trying to escape.
Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah on Tuesday announced three days of national mourning for the victims.
Government spokesman Ousmane Gaoual told local Guineenews that the country was “in mourning and we must respect the grief of Guinea and the families” in response to a question about the number of victims.
He said: “The government announces provisional figures and someone gives different figures, where is the contradiction? We are not saying this is the final figure.”
A local journalist in Nzérékoré previously told the BBC that the stadium was packed with thousands of people before the deadly incident.
Paul Sakouvogi said the stadium had “only one exit… very small” where the scuffle broke out as people tried to flee.
Guinea is one of many African countries currently banned from hosting international football matches because they do not meet international standards.
Other countries banned from such matches by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) include Ethiopia, Gambia, Chad and Sierra Leone.
