Nine people lost their lives at the Cuscatlan Stadium in San Salvador, El Salvador on Saturday as a result of a stampede that ensued when soccer fans attempted to gain entry to watch the local tournament featuring Alianza and FAS. Several others reportedly sustained various degrees of injury.
The National Civil Police confirmed the death toll in a tweet, which also disclosed that some of the injured victims have been taken to hospitals close by, with two of them being in critical condition.
According to the police, early reports suggest that the incident was caused by a surge of fans who tried to gain access to the stadium. Emergency services responded promptly, with El Salvador’s Interior Minister Juan Carlos Bidegain revealing that the civil protection organisation’s first responders were already on the scene assisting people affected by the incident.
In the wake of the stampede, the match was suspended as emergency services evacuated people from the stadium while hundreds of police officers and soldiers also gathered there, with ambulance sirens adding to the chaotic atmosphere. Health Minister Francisco Alabi has further assured that the country’s health system has been providing medical care to all patients affected by the stampede.
This tragic incident once again highlights the need for better safety measures at large events like football matches. It comes seven months after 135 people, including over 40 children, lost their lives in a stampede that occurred after a football match in Malang, Indonesia. This latest stampede has left a sombre mood in the football community and the country at large.
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