At least nine dead after mass panic in Guatemala

In the Central American country of Guatemala, at least nine people died, and more than twenty were injured in a mass panic at the end of a concert celebrating national independence early Thursday morning (15) local time.

According to local media reports, the victims were crushed to death in the city of Quetzaltenango, about two hundred kilometers west of Guatemala City, as thousands of people tried to leave the area after a concert.

The accident occurred on an open-air esplanade during the “Xelafer,” a traditional event in Quetzaltenango for the national holiday.

Guatemala resumed its Independence Day celebrations from Spain on September 15, 1821, after suspending these major events for two years due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

The Volunteer Fire Department said on “Twitter” that the incident occurred in a party area and confirmed that people “with blows and possible fractures among the injured.” They were all taken to the Hospital Regional de Occidente.

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