One person has died and dozens more have been injured at the Alejandro Villanueva Stadium in Lima, Peru, during a pre-match flag-waving event. The incident occurred on Friday, a day before a derby match between Alianza Lima and Universitario de Deportes.
Initial reports suggested that parts of the stadium wall had collapsed, but Alianza Lima and fire officials have stated that there were no structural failures. The cause of the incident remains under investigation.
Alianza Lima expressed condolences and confirmed that 60 people were injured, according to media reports. The Peruvian health minister, Juan Carlos Velasco Guerrero, reported 47 injuries, with three in critical condition.
Fire chief Marcos Pajuelo told Canal N that initial assessments showed no damage to the stadium's structure. The interior ministry noted that 40 firefighters responded to an emergency involving people trapped in a structure.
The Peruvian professional soccer league confirmed that Saturday's match would proceed as planned, emphasising its commitment to safety at sporting events.
