At least 20 people in Tanzania were trampled to death at an open -air evangelical Christian church service in the north of the country , officials said on Sunday .

Government official Kippi Warioba, District Commissioner in the northern town of Moshi , said he feared the number of dead could still rise from the accident , which took place on Saturday afternoon .

“ So far , 20 people have died, but the death toll could increase as there were also wounded, ” Warioba told AFP.

The tragedy happened when a crowd of worshippers was attending a prayer ceremony on Saturday led by the popular preacher , Boniface Mwamposa , who heads the Arise and Shine Ministry Tanzania .

The stampede occurred when Mwamposa , who calls himself the “ Apostle ” , poured what he said was holy oil on the ground and the crowd surged toward to touch it in the hope of being cured of sickness , witnesses said .

“ The Apostle Boniface Mwamposa poured sacred anointing oil on the ground, ” one witness, Jennifer Temu , told AFP.

“ Dozens of people immediately fell being jostled and trampled, and some died. We have counted 20 people killed — but there are also wounded . ”

“ It was horrible , people trampled on mercilessly , jostling each other with elbows , ” said another witness, Peter Kilewo .

“ It was like the preacher had thrown bundles of dollars about … and there were all these deaths !”

Source:- AFP