AP’s Jakarta staff responded quickly Saturday night, coordinating comprehensive all-formats coverage of the Indonesia soccer tragedy that left 125 people dead after police-fired tear gas triggered a stampede for the stadium exits.
When Southeast Asia news director Kiko Rosario phoned colleagues in Jakarta early Sunday, the team was already in motion: Reporter Niniek Karmini was already writing the news alert, chief photographer Dita Alangkara was securing photos from stringers, and senior producer Andi Jatmiko was working with freelance video cameramen on the ground in Malang, about 750 km (470 miles) from the capital.
AP had a story out shortly after the alert, as well as visuals from the stadium. In the hours that followed, near-constant communication with stringers at the scene brought more detail to the mainbar and an explainer, and more images, including agency-exclusive live video streamed from a stringer’s smartphone outside the stadium as the story developed into Sunday.
Jakarta reporter Edna Tarigan, photographer Achmad Ibrahim and video journalist Fadlan Syam arrived in Malang early Monday morning, with Syam transmitting multiple live shots, including memorials. AP’s team also delivered fresh reporting from the stadium and the hospital, where injured survivors recounted their experiences for text and photos.
Smart collaboration between text, photo and video formats informed the coverage throughout, while colleagues in AP Sports contributed sidebars with global reaction and historical context.
Police officers fire tear gas in an attempt to stop violence after a soccer match at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java, Indonesia, Oct. 1, 2022. The tear gas triggered a panicky stampede that left 125 100 dead, most trampled to death or suffocated.
AP Photo / Yudha Prabowo
Soccer fans storm the pitch after a match at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java, Indonesia, Oct. 1, 2022. Witnesses said angry fans took to the pitch when Arema lost after 23 years of undefeated home matches against Persebaya.
AP Photo / Yudha Prabowo
Officers detain a fan as spectators stormed the field after Arema lost a home soccer match to Persebaya at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java, Indonesia, Oct. 1, 2022. Panic following police actions left over 100 dead, mostly trampled to death, police said Sunday.
AP Photo / Yudha Prabowo
Soccer fans carry an injured man after violence erupted after a soccer match at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java, Indonesia, Oct. 1, 2022. Police fired tear gas into the crowd triggering a deadly stampede that left 125 dead, most trampled to death or suffocated.
AP Photo / Yudha Prabowo
A medical worker at the Saiful Anwar Hospital tends to bodies of soccer match stampede victims in Malang, East Java, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2022.
AP Photo / Trisnadi
Medical workers at the Saiful Anwar Hospital identify one of the victims of Saturday’s soccer match stampede in Malang, East Java, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2022.
AP Photo / Trisnadi
Women weep at a hospital, Oct. 2, 2022, after receiving confirmation that a family member is among those killed in a soccer match stampede the previous night in Malang, East Java, Indonesia.
AP Photo / Dicky Bisinglasi
Police cars lie flipped over on the pitch at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2022, after violence broke out after a match the previous night. Police fired tear gas into the crowd, triggering a deadly stampede.
AP Photo / Trisnadi
A supporter of Arema FC prays inside Kanjuruhan Stadium for victims of the deadly soccer match stampede two days earlier in Malang, East Java, Indonesia, Oct. 3, 2022.
AP Photo / Achmad Ibrahim
Arema FC players and officials outside Kanjuruhan Stadium pray for the victims of the deadly stampede at the stadium two days earlier in Malang, Indonesia, Oct. 3, 2022.
AP Photo / Achmad Ibrahim
Soccer fans chant slogans in Malang, East Java, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2022, during a vigil for the victims of the previous night’s deadly stampede.
AP Photo / Dicky Bisinglasi
Supporters of soccer club Arema FC pray outside Kanjuruhan Stadium, Oct. 3, 2022, mourning victims of the deadly stadium stampede two days earlier in Malang, East Java, Indonesia.
AP Photo / Achmad Ibrahim
A woman takes a moment in front of Gate 13 at Kanjuruhan Stadium, Oct. 4, 2022, mourning victims of the deadly soccer match stampede three days earlier in Malang, East Java, Indonesia. Police said that the gates at the soccer stadium were too small to accommodate panicked fans trying to escape police-fired tear gas.
AP Photo / Achmad Ibrahim
Men outside Kanjuruhan Stadium, Oct. 5, 2022, offer prayers for victims of the soccer match stampede four days earlier in Malang, East Java, Indonesia. Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo said that locked gates had contributed to the deadly crush that left 125 people dead.
AP Photo / Dicky Bisinglasi