At least 12 people died this Saturday night in a stampede at the Cuscatlán Stadium in El Salvador prior to a Major League soccer match, according to the National Civil Police (PNC).
“The number of deaths after the stampede at the Cuscatlán Stadium amounts to 9,” the source said at first on Twitter, noting that two people are in “critical condition” and have been taken to nearby hospitals. A few hours later, the Salvadoran Government Press Secretary confirmed the number of deaths, which now reaches 12.
Carlos Fuentes, spokesman for Comandos de Salvamento told reporters that the deceased are mostly men, while some 100 people have been taken to different hospitals and some 500 people have been affected in the event.
For his part, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele assured on his Twitter account that “an exhaustive investigation will be carried out.” “The Police and the Prosecutor’s Office will carry out an exhaustive investigation of the events that occurred at the Cuscatlán Stadium. Everyone will be investigated: teams, managers, stadium, ticket office, league, federation, etc.”, he published and added that “whoever the culprits are, They will not go unpunished.”
The Salvadoran Football Federation (Fesfut) regretted the deaths in a statement and added that “it will immediately request a report on what happened and will communicate the pertinent information in the shortest possible time.”
The president of the National Sports Institute (INDES) and brother of President Bukele, Yamil Bukele, expressed his solidarity with “all the families that today have lost a loved one in this sad event.” “We have called an extraordinary meeting of the Steering Committee of INDES,” which is the sponsor of the Salvadoran Major League tournament, he announced.
“Today the colors do not exist and for the good of the sport that we are all passionate about, we hope that this does not happen again,” published the FAS, the visiting team of the match that was finally suspended.
Luis Ãngel Firpo stated that “soccer is in mourning”. “We join the pain of the families of the Alianza fans,” while the Eagle published: “We join the pain of the Alianza family, our most sincere condolences.”
Fesfut announced the suspension of the two games scheduled for Sunday, corresponding to the second leg of the quarterfinals, and announced an urgent meeting with its Sports Venue Safety Commission.