At least 30 killed in stampede at popular Haiti tourist site | World | News

While at least 30 people lost their lives after the devastating stampede in Haiti, authorities warned that the death toll could increase.

Authorities confirmed the tragedy at Laferriere Castle, a 19th-century fortress considered one of the most visited tourist attractions in the Caribbean country, which was packed with students and visitors on Saturday when the catastrophic incident occurred.

Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé confirmed that “a large number of young people” were there at the time, but declined to name any victims or give an estimated death toll.

In an official statement, he “expressed his sincere condolences to the bereaved families and assured them of his deep solidarity in this time of mourning and great pain.”

Jean Henri Petit, head of civil protection for Haiti’s Nord Department, explained that the tragedy occurred at the entrance to the area and was made worse by rainfall.

The Caribbean country has been plagued by violent gang activity in recent years, according to UN figures; armed groups control 90% of the capital Port-au-Prince Mirror.

Equipped with smuggling weapons, these gangs subject civilians to murder, kidnapping and sexual violence. The country has also been rocked by a series of recent disasters, including fuel tank explosions that killed 90 and 24 people in 2021 and 2024, respectively, as well as the 2021 earthquake that killed nearly 2,000 people.