El Salvador Stampede Death Toll Revealed
Authorities reported on Sunday that 12 people had died and another 100 had been critically injured in an El Salvador stampede at a soccer stadium. GABRIEL AQUINO/AFP via Getty Images

Authorities in El Salvador confirmed that 12 people have died, and hundreds more were injured in a stampede at a soccer stadium on Saturday.

According to Geo TV, the chaotic scene unfolded as eager supporters sought entry into the Cuscatlan Stadium at the country's capital San Salvador to see a local tournament match between Alianza and FAS teams.

The match was promptly suspended as police and military personnel evacuated people from the stadium. Hundreds of police officers and soldiers converged as ambulance sirens wailed.

Addressing the media, National Civil Police (PNC) director Mauricio Arriaza told reporters that "Salvadoran soccer is in mourning" as he confirmed the death toll of 12 due to the stampede.

In a statement on Sunday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and friends of the victims, calling the incident "tragic."

Carlos Fuentes, a spokesman for Comandos de Salvamento, disclosed that more than 500 people received medical treatment. Fuentes noted that around 100 people in serious condition, showing signs of suffocation and other types of trauma, were taken to hospitals.

Fuentes believed that the stampede started after one of the gates in the stadium fell, causing people to crowd together. Law enforcement officials have further revealed that the condition of at least two injured persons remains critical.

El Salvador Stampede

A surge of people attempting to enter one section of the Cuscatlan Stadium led to the devastating El Salvador stampede, as confirmed by Luis Alonso Amaya, Director of the Civil Defense Agency, DW reported.

According to Amaya, too many tickets had been sold for the highly anticipated match between FC Alianza and CD FAS. The match was quickly called off as a result of the stampede.

Testimonies from eyewitnesses shed light on the chaotic scene on the sidelines of the first-division match. One fan recounted, "There were only two gates open in the stadium. The people outside wanted to force their way in; they all fell on us."

The La Prensa Grafica newspaper described the panicked crowd as a "human avalanche." Another fan, Sandra Argueta, told the local outlet that another gate had to be kicked down "to get some air" because many people were suffocating.

Sandra Guzman, also a survivor, told AFP News about her terrifying experience. "The masses descended upon me. A large crowd of people fell on me. I couldn't even breathe; they were choking me," she noted.

Having lost consciousness amid the chaos, Guzman later awoke in the hospital, lucky to have survived the tragedy.

El Salvador Authorities to Conduct 'Exhaustive Investigation'

In reaction to the devastating El Salvador stampede, President Nayib Bukele has pledged an "exhaustive investigation" into the incident involving all relevant parties.

Bukele's commitment to justice was announced through a tweet, saying, "Everyone will be investigated: teams, managers, stadium, ticket office, league, federation, etc. Whoever the culprits are, they will not go unpunished."

El Salvador's Attorney General, Rodolfo Delgado, also took to social media to announce that EDESSA, the management business responsible for the stadium, and top officials of the two clubs are currently under investigation.

The initial investigation pointed towards selling too many tickets and admitting counterfeit tickets. Concerns regarding overselling in the black market have been raised.

Minister of the Interior and Territorial Development Juan Carlos Bidegain also revealed on Twitter that Bukele had ordered a comprehensive probe, leaving no stone unturned to ensure justice would prevail.

The National Civil Police shared a video capturing the scene of many ambulances and medical personnel hurriedly going inside the stadium following the El Salvador stampede.

Additionally, photographs taken inside the venue depicted massive crowds, with numerous spectators donning the colors of their favorite teams. Alianza and FAS are two of Central America's most famous soccer clubs.

Cuscatlan Stadium, which has a capacity of more than 44,000 fans, is one of the largest in Central America.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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