Nairobi/Kinshasa  - Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are to launch a probe after 13 people died during a stampede at a football stadium prompted by allegations of witchcraft, reports said Tuesday.

Eyewitnesses told the BBC that those who died were trapped at the exit of the stadium in Butembo, eastern Congo after fans fled a volley of tear gas fired by police.

The trouble started when the goalkeeper of the Nyuki team threw something into the net of opposing team Socozaki at half-time.

"Socozaki players caught him and started beating him," an eyewitness told the BBC. "His Nyuki teammates intervened and a fight broke out between the two sides."

During the scuffle a police commander was hit on the head by a projectile thrown from the stands, prompting the police to fire tear gas, the UN-backed Radio Okapi said.

Local police chiefs have announced they will investigate the accident, the BBC said.

Allegations of witchcraft are common in the DR Congo and around the region.

A mob burned 11 elderly people to death in a village in Western Kenya in May this year, claiming they were planning to bewitch people. (dpa)