At least 30 people, many of them young, have died and dozens more are reported injured after a crush at the Citadelle Henry fortress in northern Haiti, a popular tourist site. The incident occurred on Saturday, according to Jean Henri Petit, head of civil protection for the Nord department. He told local newspaper Le Nouvelliste that the death toll could rise due to the number of people reported missing.
Initial reports suggest visitors were crammed against a single entrance, and a scuffle broke out between those trying to enter and leave. Other local media said a gathering advertised on TikTok may have contributed, and there were rumours that police used excessive teargas to break up a fight near the citadel, causing panic and triggering the crush.
Culture Minister Emmanuel Menard confirmed 30 deaths, stating that the injured are receiving medical care and a rescue team is searching for missing persons. The fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982, will remain closed until further notice. Haiti's prime minister's office expressed 'deep sadness' and urged citizens to remain calm while an investigation proceeds.
The tragedy occurs amid ongoing gang violence and a security crackdown in Haiti. The country, the poorest in the western hemisphere, has also been hit by rising oil prices linked to the Iran conflict, with recent fuel price hikes disrupting supply chains and doubling transportation costs.
