88 killed in stampede at Manila game show
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-04 13:34

"We both fell and we were both pinned to the ground," he said.

Authorities were collecting the dead and lining up the bodies on the side of a street outside the stadium for identification as bags and shoes lay scattered outside the hall.

Police Superintendent Gerry Galvan said at least 50 people died at the stadium and the rest at hospitals where they were taken. Soldiers loaded some of the bodies into a truck.

Radio DZBB reported that hospitals were overwhelmed with the scores of injured and were using parking lots to accommodate them. The Rizal Medical Center was treating 200 injured in one hospital alone, said Sen. Richard Gordon, head of the Philippine Red Cross.

Vice President Noli de Castro arrived at the scene, giving instructions to police to clear the area of people and cars to make things easier for rescue workers.

"We did not want this to happen. It's just that there were so many people wanting to watch Wowowee because of the big prizes awaiting them," de Castro said.

The game show, organized by ABS-CBN TV network, is extremely popular in the Philippines because it offers big prizes, like cars and money. Some people had lined up for two days to get tickets.

Gordon blamed poor organization of the event for the tragedy.

"If you predict that there's going to be a huge crowd, you should be ready with ambulances and communications," he said. "You should plan for the worst. We have a lot of people who wanted to help but could not get in immediately."