At least 30 dead after stampede at Haiti heritage site
The tragedy happened at the Laferrière Citadel, a 19th-century fortress in the north of the country and one of Haiti’s best-known tourist attractions.
At least 30 people have been killed in a stampede at a historic site in Haiti, authorities have said, with officials warning the death toll could rise.
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The incident happened at the Laferrière Citadel, a 19th-century fortress in the north of the country and one of Haiti’s best-known tourist attractions.
The UNESCO World Heritage site was reportedly hosting an annual celebration on Saturday and was crowded with students and other visitors at the time.
Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé said “many young people” were at the site, but did not identify the victims or provide a death toll.
In a statement, he extended “his sincere condolences to the bereaved families and assures them of his profound solidarity during this time of mourning and great suffering”.
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Jean Henri Petit, head of civil protection for Haiti’s Nord department, said the crush happened at the entrance to the site and was made worse by rain.
Haiti has faced years of instability and violence, with armed gangs now controlling large parts of the country, including much of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The country has also suffered a series of major disasters in recent years, including deadly fuel tank explosions in 2021 and 2024, as well as the 2021 earthquake that killed around 2,000 people.