A stampede during a tourist visit to a historic fortress in Haiti caused at least 30 deaths on Saturday, including several young people, a government minister told AFP on Sunday.
“The Minister of Culture and Communication confirmed the death of 30 people,” Culture Minister Emmanuel Menard told AFP in a written message.
“The injured are currently receiving the necessary medical care, and a rescue team is searching for the missing people,” Menard said, without specifying the exact number of injured.
The incident occurred on Saturday at Citadelle Laferrièrein Milot, during “a tourist activity that brought together many young people,” the Haitian government indicated on Facebook.
The 19th century fortressdeclared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, was closed until further noticeMinister Menard added.
Stampede in Haiti
The number of victims could increase due to the high number of missing people, the head of the civil protection office in northern Haiti, Jean Henry Petit, told the local newspaper Le Nouvelliste.
Several dozen people were also injured and taken to the hospital, the outlet reported.
Initial reports indicate that visitors crowded at a single entrance and an altercation broke out between people trying to leave and enter the premises.
“All competent authorities are fully mobilized and on high alert to provide, without delay, the necessary assistance, care and support,” the government said in a statement.
