Eight people have died, and nine others were injured in a crush at an evangelical gathering in Burundi’s largest city, Bujumbura.

The incident happened on Saturday at the Senior Technical School of Kamenge, where thousands of people had gathered to hear prominent preacher Chris Ndikumana.

Police and witnesses said a wall near the exit collapsed as worshippers tried to leave after the late-night service, causing some people to be trampled.

"There were so many people and everyone wanted to leave at the same time," a teacher told the AFP news agency.

Police said six people died at King Khaled Hospital, including five women and one man, while two others died at a military hospital. Several others were treated for injuries.

Officials said most victims showed no signs of physical trauma, suggesting suffocation was the main cause of death and injuries.

Neither Mr Ndikumana nor the event organisers have commented publicly on the incident.

The preacher, whose YouTube channel has more than a million subscribers, leads the Kanguka (Wake up) ministry and attracts large crowds across Africa. Some followers believe he can heal illnesses through prayer.

Deadly crushes at religious gatherings have occurred elsewhere in Africa. In 2020, at least 20 people died in Tanzania during an outdoor service, while 31 people were killed at a church food distribution event in Nigeria in 2022.