El Salvador Stadium Stampede: At Least 9 Dead After Fans Break Through Gate

The death of nine fans was confirmed by the National Civil Police as per its preliminary report published on Twitter. The incident happened at the Monumental Stadium in Cuscatlan, 41kms away from the capital as clubs Alianza and FAS were facing off.

The police also added that at least two of the injured fans, admitted at hospitals, are in critical condition. Carlos Fuentes, spokesman for the first aid group Rescue Commandos, also confirmed the deaths.

“We can confirm nine dead – seven men and two women – and we attended to more than 500 people, and more than 100 were transported to hospitals, some of them were serious,” Fuentes said as per international news agency AP.

⚠️BREAKING: 9 dead after stampede at an El Salvador stadium where soccer fans had gathered to watch a local tournament – Policepic.twitter.com/3kT4RzFb9l

— Breaking News (@NewsJunkieBreak) May 21, 2023

#BREAKING: Many casualties being reported following soccer stadium stampede in San Salvador, El Salvador. #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/IZD89WVbuJ

— Breaking 4 News (@Breaking_4_News) May 21, 2023

The match was suspended 16 minutes from kick-off as the chaos from the stampede gained everyone’s attention. Fans in the stands could be seen waving frantically as injured were soon carried out through the stadium’s tunnel and down to the pitch.

The Live images of the stampede was also transmitted by a local channel as dozens of fans received medical treatment on the field. Fans who escaped the crush stood on the field furiously waving shirts attempting to review people lying on the grass barely moving.

Pedro Hernández, president of El Salvador football’s first division, said that as per the preliminary report, the stampede happened after the fans managed to push through a closed gate into the stadium.

“It was an avalanche of fans who overran the gate. Some were still under the metal in the tunnel. Others managed to make it to the stands and then to the field and were smothered,” an unidentified volunteer with the Rescue Commandos first aid group told journalists.

National Civil Police Commissioner Mauricio Arriza Chicas, who arrived at the scene, said a criminal investigation would be launched immediately.

“We are going to investigate from the ticket sales, the entries into the stadium, but especially the southern zone,” where, he said, the gate was pushed open.

The Salvadoran football federation released a statement to show its regrets on what had happened and voiced support for the victims’ families.