At least 17 people have been killed and more than 60 were injured in a stampede at a football stadium in the northern Angolan city of Uige.

Hundrends of supporters stormed the gates after failing to gain entry before the start of Angola’s first division championship match between Santa Rita de Cassia and Recreativo de Libolo.

According to eyewitnesses most of fans fell and became trapped and suffocated at the venue on Friday, while trying to gain access past the stadium’s 8,000 capacity.

“Some people had to walk on top of other people. There were 77 casualties, of whom 17 died,” Ernesto Luis, director general of the local hospital, said in an interview with Reuters.

Five of the injured are reported to be in serious condition with section of Portuguese media indicating that some of the dead are children.

Domingos Vika, 35, who was part of the crowd said that the entrance was already overcrowded when more people began pouring in to the stadium.

“When they gave the opportunity for everyone to come in, we were all packed at the gate,” said Mr Vika, who left the venue with a broken hand.

Another survivor Joao Silva narrated how the accident occured,

“When we wanted to go in, we found a barrier. The first row of people fell down… I was in the third layer (of people),” said 37-year-old fan João Silva, who suffered  a broken foot.

Despite the accident the match was not stopped by the organisers and  game ended on the 90th minute with visitors Libolo winning 1-0 aganist Santa Rita de Cassia.

Latest reports indicate that the Angola’s President Jose Eduardo dos Santos has ordered an investigation into the incident.