In a shocking turn of events, a stampede at a soccer stadium in El Salvador resulted in at least 12 fatalities and hundreds of injuries on Saturday, as confirmed by police and emergency services.
The incident reportedly occurred due to a sudden surge of fans attempting to enter Cuscatlan Stadium in San Salvador, the nation’s capital, to witness a local tournament match between Alianza and FAS. The game was called off while emergency teams cleared the area, and police and military personnel arrived in large numbers.
“Salvadoran soccer is in mourning,” Mauricio Arriaza, director of the National Civil Police (PNC), stated to the press, confirming the death toll of 12.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino expressed his sorrow over the “tragic” event in a statement on Sunday, offering his condolences to the bereaved families and friends.
Among the survivors was Sandra Guzman, 40, who left a local hospital early Sunday with a bandaged left knee, struggling to walk with her friend, Javier Ramirez, 31. Both survivors vowed never to return to the stadium after the terrifying ordeal.
Hospital network across the country is providing care to all patients, stated Health Minister Francisco Alabi. A spokesperson for the emergency services group Comandos de Salvamento, Carlos Fuentes, confirmed that they treated over 500 individuals. About 100 critically injured patients were rushed to the hospital, some showing symptoms of asphyxia and other traumatic injuries, said Fuentes. The stampede seemingly ensued after a stadium gate collapsed, leading to panic and crowd congestion.
Nayib Bukele, President of El Salvador, announced that a thorough investigation would be carried out by the PNC and the Attorney General’s Office to identify and penalize those responsible.
In a statement, the Salvadoran Football Federation (Fesfut) expressed its deep regret over the incident and promised to submit a detailed report as soon as possible. Consequently, all national-level soccer games were suspended on Sunday.
This incident follows a similar tragedy seven months ago in Malang, Indonesia, where a post-match stampede killed 135 individuals, including over 40 children.
Additional Input was taken from AFP
