Ivory Coast New Year's stampede death toll rises to 64, says health minister

The Associated Press

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast - Ivory Coast's health minister says the death toll in the New Year's stampede has risen to 64.

Health Minister Raymonde Goudou, speaking to the press, said three more people died in addition to the 61 who were killed from being trampled when thousands left a New Year's fireworks display. She said 26 people who had been missing after the chaos of the stampede were located in various hospitals in Abidjan.

Goudou said Thursday afternoon that the government will close its investigation into the tragic stampede on Friday and will issue a report later.

The Front Populaire Ivorien, the opposition party of former President Laurent Gbagbo, issued a statement criticizing Interior Minister Hamed Eakayoko for not taking adequate security measures for the fireworks display in central Abidjan on New Year's Eve.