KINSHASA, Congo (Oct 28, 1998 - 10:26 EST) -- Lightning killed 11 members of a Congolese soccer team and injured dozens more people during a weekend game, the Congolese news agency reported.
The lightning bolt killed all the players on the home team in the village of Bena Tshadi in the province of Eastern Kasai, the Congolese Press Agency said.
The report could not be independently confirmed.
More than 30 people, most on the sidelines, were injured, but none of the injuries is believed life-threatening, the report said.
Investigators blamed the lightning bolt on witchcraft because all the opposing players, from nearby Basangana village, escaped injury, the agency reported Tuesday.
Sorcery is often used in the region in an attempt to influence soccer games. Witchcraft is often blamed throughout west and central Africa to explain natural phenomenon and illness.
The score was 1-1 when the lightning struck.
In South Africa last weekend, six soccer players were hurt when lightning struck the field.