At least 12 people tragically lost their lives, and many others were injured in a stampede during a Saturday quarterfinal soccer match in El Salvador.
Soccer fans surged through one of the access gates at the Cuscatlan Monumental Stadium in San Salvador, the capital, leading to the devastating incident. The crush of fans was due to the overselling of tickets on the black market, according to Salvadoran officials.
The National Civil Police released a preliminary report via Twitter, confirming both the death toll and the number of injured people. According to their statement, 12 fatalities occurred during the match between Alianza and FAS clubs. Several injured spectators were critically hurt and urgently taken to nearby hospitals for immediate medical treatment.
Initial reports stated that nine individuals had sadly died. However, local media later revised the death toll to 12.
Carlos Fuentes, spokesperson for Rescue Commandos, confirmed the upsetting news of the deaths. Fuentes confirmed 12 lives were lost, and their first aid team provided care to an overwhelming number of over 500 people. More than 100 of these needed to be hospitalized, including several in critical condition.
The match was halted just 16 minutes into the game when anxious fans in the stands caught the players’ attention on the field. They urgently alerted the officials with frantic signals, prompting them to act swiftly. The injured were quickly evacuated through a tunnel onto the pitch while television networks broadcasted the ensuing chaos.
Amidst the confusion, fans who managed to escape the stampede rushed onto the field, energetically waving their shirts as improvised distress signals. They anxiously searched for signs of life among the motionless bodies scattered across the grass.
As authorities arrived at the scene, National Civil Police Commissioner Mauricio Arriza Chicas announced an extensive criminal investigation in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Office.
The Salvadoran Soccer Federation, expressing deep sorrow over the incident, issued a statement offering condolences to the impacted families and pledging its support during this difficult time.
