Haiti Historical Castle Celebration Turns Tragic: Stampede Accident Claims at Least 30 Lives
A tragic stampede occurred at Haiti's northern historical castle, the Citadelle Laferrière, during an annual celebration, resulting in at least 30 deaths. The incident occurred amidst ongoing gang violence and follows previous major disasters in the island nation.
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- 📰 Published: April 12, 2026 at 13:24
- 🔍 Collected: April 12, 2026 at 16:29 (3h 5m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 22:05 (173h 36m after Collected)
According to Reuters, Jean Henri Petit, head of the civil protection department in Haiti's northern province, stated that the accident occurred at the Citadelle Laferrière, a fortress built in the early 19th century after Haiti gained independence from France.
Petit said the fortress is one of Haiti's most popular tourist attractions, and it was crowded with students and tourists today for the annual celebration of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime stated in a release that he "extends his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and expresses deep solidarity and support during this time of sorrow and immense pain."
He also said that "many young people" were present at the celebration, but the identities of the deceased were not immediately clear, nor was an estimated death toll provided in the statement.
Pettit stated that the accident occurred at the entrance of the site, and the rainfall worsened the disaster.
The accident occurs as Haiti faces gang violence, with civilians frequently targeted, while security forces' crackdowns have also become increasingly deadly.
In recent years, the island nation has experienced several disasters, including a fuel tank explosion in 2024 that killed 24 people, another oil tank explosion in 2021 that killed 90, and an earthquake in the same year that killed about 2,000 people. (Compiled by: Xu Rui-cheng) 1150412
Petit said the fortress is one of Haiti's most popular tourist attractions, and it was crowded with students and tourists today for the annual celebration of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime stated in a release that he "extends his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and expresses deep solidarity and support during this time of sorrow and immense pain."
He also said that "many young people" were present at the celebration, but the identities of the deceased were not immediately clear, nor was an estimated death toll provided in the statement.
Pettit stated that the accident occurred at the entrance of the site, and the rainfall worsened the disaster.
The accident occurs as Haiti faces gang violence, with civilians frequently targeted, while security forces' crackdowns have also become increasingly deadly.
In recent years, the island nation has experienced several disasters, including a fuel tank explosion in 2024 that killed 24 people, another oil tank explosion in 2021 that killed 90, and an earthquake in the same year that killed about 2,000 people. (Compiled by: Xu Rui-cheng) 1150412