At least dozen killed in El Salvador football stadium crush
Police said initial reports point to crowds of fans trying to enter the stadium to watch a match in the capital.
At least 12 people have been killed in an apparent crush at a stadium in El Salvador where soccer fans had gathered to watch a local tournament, according to police and government officials.
“For now, we have a negative result of 12 victims, nine who are here in the stadium and three more who have been informed to us that they are in different hospital centers,” Mauricio Arriaza, director of the National Civil Police (PNC), told Sunday. reporters.
“Salvador football is in mourning,” said Arriaza.
Police said initial reports point to a crowd of fans trying to enter the stadium in the Central American capital San Salvador to watch a match between FC Alianza and Club Deportivo FAS.
“Only two gates were open in the entire stadium,” a fan told La Prensa Grafica. “The people outside wanted to push in and all attacked us.”
Another fan, Sandra Argueta, said children and the elderly were affected and the gate had to be kicked in “to get some air because there were a lot of people and we were suffocating”.
El Salvador’s Interior Minister Juan Carlos Bidegain said civil defense first responders were on the scene and attending to people affected by the incident.
The match was suspended as emergency services evacuated people from the stadium, where hundreds of police and soldiers gathered as ambulance sirens blared.
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The FIFA chief expressed his condolences on Sunday after a “tragic” stampede that left 12 people dead at a stadium in El Salvador where soccer fans had gathered to watch a local tournament.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims who lost their lives following the tragic incidents that took place in El Salvador,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement.
In a statement posted on Twitter, the Salvadoran Football Federation said it “deeply regrets” the events at the Cuscatlan stadium.
“It also expresses solidarity with the relatives of those affected and deceased in this incident,” the tweet said, adding that the organization would immediately request a report on the incident.
Health Minister Francisco Alabi said the country’s hospital network was “providing medical care to all patients” in the wake of the stampede.
The tragedy comes seven months after 135 people, including more than 40 children, died in a post-soccer stampede in Malang, Indonesia.