An incident ahead of a local football derby in the Peruvian capital Lima has left one fan dead and dozens injured.

Officials are investigating the cause. Initial reports suggested parts of the stadium's wall and structure had collapsed, which has since been disputed.

Confirming the death, Peruvian Health Minister Juan Carlos Velasco Guerrero told media at a Lima hospital that 47 people were hurt - three of whom are in a critical condition.

Hundreds had gathered around Alejandro Villanueva Stadium wearing football shirts and waving flags of the home team, Alianza Lima, ahead of a match against local rivals Universitario de Deportes.

Fire Chief Marcos Pajuelo told reporters that the structure of the southern stands appeared to be in good condition. There are no collapsed walls or sections fallen into the pit, Pajuelo said.

Saturday night's match will still go ahead as planned, the football league stated. Earlier, the interior ministry reported that 40 firefighters responded to an emergency at the stadium, involving people trapped in a structure.

However, the Alianza Lima club published a statement indicating that preliminary information suggests the incident was not related to any structural collapse.

The Peruvian Professional Football League emphasized its commitment to safety at sporting events and confirmed that authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the rally.