PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Officials have confirmed that a deadly crowd crush at Haiti’s renowned Citadelle Laferrière fortress has claimed the lives of at least 25 people, with dozens more suffering injuries during weekend festivities at the historic mountaintop site.
Cap-Haïtien city officials released a statement detailing how Saturday’s tragic incident in Milot “resulted in numerous cases of asphyxiation, trampling and loss of consciousness.” Emergency responders transported dozens of festival attendees to area medical facilities, while authorities continue searching for multiple missing persons.
“According to preliminary information … a situation of severe overcrowding, linked in particular to deficiencies in crowd management measures, triggered a stampede,” municipal leaders explained in their official statement.
The Haitian National Police have launched a formal investigation into what caused the devastating incident. Their inquiry prompted officials to revise the fatality count to 25 deaths, with medical examiners conducting autopsies as of Sunday.
Law enforcement reported that 30 individuals remain under hospital care. Police officials have urged citizens to assist with the ongoing investigation while cautioning against spreading unverified information.
The Haitian government has expressed sympathy for families affected by the tragedy at the Citadelle Laferrière, a popular tourist destination.
Recovery efforts continued Sunday, with some victims’ remains still located at the fortress site.
Donaldson Jean mourned the loss of his sister, who had earned her place on the school excursion through academic excellence. He wept while retrieving her body, which had been covered with white sheeting.
“Morning and night, she was studying for the genius program,” Jean recalled. “She would come and ask me to help with homework before dinner. Look how (I) lost her.”
