Monday May 22, 2023
A devastating incident took place at a football stadium in the capital of El Salvador, leaving at least 12 people dead and dozens injured. The National Civil Police announced the tragic stampede on Twitter, with Salvadoran officials attributing the incident to overselling and fraudulent ticketing.
The unfortunate stampede occurred during a match between Alianza and FAS at the Cuscatlán Stadium. According to initial reports, the surge in fans trying to enter the stadium led to chaos. Salvadoran Health Minister Francisco Alabi said on Twitter that rescue teams responded quickly and provided medical aid to the injured, who were then taken to local hospitals. About 90 individuals, including minors, are currently being treated, with most of them in stable condition.
Luis Alonso Amaya, director of El Salvador's national civil protection system, revealed during a press conference that the stampede had occurred in an area of the stadium where tickets had been resold, affecting about 500 people. President Nayib Bukele has promised a thorough investigation into the incident, with the national police and the attorney general's office leading the investigation. Bukele stressed that all parties involved, including the teams, stadium management, treasury, league and federation, will face scrutiny and those responsible will not escape punishment.
Salvadoran Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado announced on social media an investigation into EDESSA, the company responsible for managing the Cuscatlán stadium, as well as the leaders of the clubs involved. There were reports suggesting that fans had been sold counterfeit tickets or gained unauthorized access in other ways. The Minister of the Interior and Territorial Development, Juan Carlos Bidegain, confirmed President Bukele's commitment to a wide-ranging investigation to ensure accountability.
Video footage released by the National Civil Police of El Salvador showed many ambulances stationed outside the stadium as paramedics rushed to the scene. Photos taken from the stadium showed crowds of people, many wearing white and blue jerseys representing Allianz and FAS.
This tragic event sent shockwaves through El Salvador and highlighted the urgent need to improve security measures and ticketing protocols to prevent such disasters in the future. The nation mourns the lives lost and prays for the speedy recovery of the injured.
