In brief
The tragic incident occurred during an Easter celebration at the iconic Citadelle Laferrière, leading to at least 30 fatalities as heavy rain exacerbated a stampede among attendees. The Prime Minister has called for an investigation and expressed condolences to the families affected by this disaster.
At least 30 people are feared to have been killed in a stampede at a popular tourist site in Haiti on Saturday. The incident took place during an annual Easter gathering at the Laferrière Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site, according to Jean Henri Petit, head of civil protection for Haiti's Nord department. He warned that the death toll could yet rise.Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé stated that the incident occurred 'during a tourist event attended by many young people' at the site located in the northern town of Milot. In response, he announced that an investigation has been launched and 'all relevant authorities' are mobilized to support those affected.' | The government sends its sincere condolences to the affected families,' Fils-Aimé added in a statement. The site was heavily populated with students and visitors after the event, which remembered the founding of the 19th Century fortress, was advertised widely on social media.Reports indicate that the stampede began near the entrance to the site and worsened due to heavy rain. The situation was first reported by Haiti's Le Nouvelliste newspaper, which cited Petit, while the official government statement did not confirm specific death figures.Citadelle Laferrière, also known as Citadelle Henry, was constructed by revolutionary Henri Christophe and has become a powerful symbol of Haitian independence. The stronghold took more than a decade to build and was a critical part of a defense system for the young nation following its independence from France. This tragic stampede comes at a time when Haiti is already facing challenges with widespread gang violence leading to numerous fatalities.
