Featured image credit: Nick Agus Arya on Unsplash
Renovation work has been completed at Indonesia’s Kanjuruhan Stadium, over two years since 135 people died following a stampede at the venue.
Indonesia’s Minister of Public Works, Dody Hanggodo, confirmed over the weekend that all facilities have been upgraded at the stadium. The renovations have been overseen by the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) and FIFA, football’s global governing body.
During the renovation period, an evacuation simulation was carried out in order to prepare the stadium for emergency situations such as the one that led to the deadly stampede in October 2022.
The incident occurred after fans invaded the pitch during a football match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya. Fans were met with teargas from police and the ensuing panic led to fans rushing for the stadium’s exits, which caused the crush.
Last year, FIFA announced a collaboration with the PSSI to raise stadium infrastructure standards in the country. Kanjuruhan Stadium was one of eight stadiums visited by a FIFA delegation.
In August, Indonesia allocated $180m (£146m/€173m) towards more than 20 football stadium projects in its state budget for 2024. Kanjuruhan Stadium received around $30m for its rebuilding project and the stadium is now ready to reopen its doors.
“We believe the stadium is now suitable for international matches,” Hanggodo said, according to Indonesian news agency Antara.
Airyn Saputri Harahap, head of the East Java Regional Settlement Infrastructure Center, said that a seven-minute evacuation process has been established for the stadium in the case of emergencies. The stadium now features 16 designated disabled seats, with Harahap also noting that the renovation took place following consultation with survivors of the 2022 disaster and the families of the deceased.
In March 2023, two football officials were handed prison sentences for their role in the disaster. A police official was also sentenced to 18 months in prison.
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