Dozens die in crush at army recruiting event in Congo

At least 31 people have died in the Republic of Congo after a stampede that occurred during a military recruiting event in the capital city of Brazzaville, officials said Tuesday. Thousands of people competing had tried to force their way into a stadium, witnesses said. The government had announced hiring for about 1,500 jobs. Youth unemployment in the country sits at about 40 percent, according to the World Bank.

What is being done to address the situation? Authorities said they are investigating the deaths. The military has paused its recruiting efforts in the capital after the incident. The military had registered roughly 700 applicants for military service per day over the past week.

Dig deeper: Listen to Todd Vician’s report on The World and Everything in It podcast about the struggle U.S. military recruiters face in reaching young people.