At least 30 people were killed and dozens were hospitalized after a stampede at a historic fort in Haiti on Saturday.
The government said on social media that the stampede occurred during “a tourist activity bringing together many young people” at the Citadel Laferriere.
An annual event was held on Saturday to celebrate the UNESCO World Heritage Site, built in the 19th century, soon after Haiti gained independence from France.
“The injured are currently receiving necessary medical care, and a rescue team is searching for any missing people,” Culture Minister Emmanuel Ménard told AFP news agency.
Local officials fear the death toll could rise due to the number of missing people.
PM expressed condolences
In a statement, Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé “expressed his sincere condolences to the bereaved families and assured them of our deep solidarity during this time of mourning and immense suffering.”
“All competent authorities are fully operational and on maximum alert to provide necessary assistance, care and support without any delay,” the statement further said.
The deadly rampage comes as Haiti grapples with a wave of mass violence that has locked down much of the country.
The Citadel Laferrière is a popular tourist attraction adjacent to the northern port of Cap-Haitien, which currently serves as Haiti’s main gateway to the outside world due to instability in the capital Port-au-Prince.
The fort symbolizes the hard-won freedom of enslaved Haitians, when the enslaved population rebelled against their oppressors and declared independence in 1804. The fort was built in 1820 to defend against an anticipated French invasion that never occurred.
Edited by: Carl Sexton