Thursday morning, rescue workers reported that a stampede that broke out at a performance in Guatemala killed nine people and injured at least 20 more. The Independence Day celebration took place at Quetzaltenango, approximately 200 kilometers west of the capital city of Guatemala City.
A beer manufacturer sponsored the performance, which was held in a field frequently used for such occasions. As the event was concluded by the Guatemalan rock band Bohemia Suburbana, some concertgoers were crushed as they attempted to exit while others were entering the venue.
Videos circulating on social media sites depict concertgoers colliding with one another and stacked on top of one another on the ground. People are urged to stop pressing and go to the side so that those who have fallen can be rescued.
Additional images supplied by the Guatemalan Red Cross and a group of volunteer firefighters depicted rescue workers responding to victims of the stampede. In one, emergency responders are seen transporting a patient on a stretcher to an ambulance.
Firefighters and police officers stand near to the bodies of those killed in a stampede at an outdoor performance in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, on September 15, 2022. Gustavo Rodas / AP
On Twitter, the Red Cross reported nine fatalities at the scene. The service reported that more than twenty people who had been hurt were stabilized. As a result of the stampede, their injuries included suspected fractures, according to firefighters, and several were sent to a local hospital. Thursday evening, Reuters reported that six people were hospitalized.
Nancy Quemé, who attended the concert, reported that thousands of people were present. She stated, “There was a great deal of muck due to the rain.” “I believe this is why the victims were unable to move and fell”
The lineup of bands began performing on Wednesday afternoon. Even in the wee hours of Thursday, she reported that there were still families with children present.
Quemé stated, “They sealed off the entire area, leaving only two entrance points.” “I found the openings to be extremely small. I sat rather far back and chose to leave the event few minutes before its conclusion.”
Amilcar Rivas, the city manager of Quetzaltenango, stated that event organizers lacked control over security and crowd management. He stated that the event was permitted.
Quetzaltenango hosts the second largest independence celebration in Guatemala. Thursday celebrates the 201st anniversary of the nation’s independence from Spain.