At least 30 people were killed in a stampede at the Citadelle Laferrière in northern Haiti on Saturday as large crowds gathered to mark an annual celebration at the historic site, officials said.
The stampede occurred at the entrance to the historic fortress, an early 19th-century structure built shortly after the country gained independence from France, said Jean Henri Petit, head of Civil Protection for Haiti’s Nord Department, Reuters reported.
The landmark, designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO, was packed with students and visitors attending the yearly event. Petit said overcrowding, combined with rainfall, contributed to the situation deteriorating rapidly.
In a statement, Haiti's prime minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé said he “extends his sincere condolences to the bereaved families and assures them of his profound solidarity during this time of mourning and great suffering.”
He added that “many young people” were among those present, though authorities have not yet confirmed the identities of the victims or provided a detailed breakdown of casualties.
Officials said emergency teams were responding at the scene and warned that the death toll could rise as more information emerges.
