According to authorities, a fatal stampede occurred during a Saturday soccer match in the Salvadoran league's crucial match-up that resulted in the deaths of 12 people and the injuries of several more.
At Monumental Stadium in Cuscatlan, about 25 miles northeast of the capital San Salvador, excited soccer supporters forced their way past one of the gates during the quarterfinal match between Alianza and FAS, according to a report from Sports Illustrated.
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele's media office acknowledged the terrible news and extended sympathy for the deaths in the El Salvador soccer stadium stampede.
According to Luis Amaya, the head of Civil Protection, 500 people got medical care, with around 100 sent to hospitals. Several wounded were critical.
#BREAKING: Emergency personnel are still evacuating victims from the San Salvador stampede. Officials are asking the public to avoid Estadio Cuscatlán. #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/2Dn2Bm6iZK
— Breaking 4 News (@Breaking_4_News) May 21, 2023
Carlos Fuentes, the spokesman for Rescue Commandos first aid organization, said that nine people-seven men and two women-died. They also helped over 500 patients, of whom over 100 needed hospitalization and several were in critical condition.
After just 16 minutes of play, turmoil burst out as supporters frantically called for assistance and brought the wounded onto the field, per Fox News. After then, the game was stopped.
Fans were seen pouring through a gate and into the stadium in what was seen by observers as an "avalanche" of people. While dozens of spectators were treated on the field, others waved shirts over some who seemed unconscious.
El Salvador President: All Parties Will Be Held Accountable
Speaking at a World Health Organization conference in Geneva, FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his condolences to the people of El Salvador and acknowledged the El Salvador soccer stadium stampede tragedy.
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said that the national police and attorney general's office will conduct a comprehensive probe. Bukele stressed that all parties--teams, managers, the venue, ticket office, league, and federation--would be held accountable, according to CBS Sports.
La @PNCSV y la @FGR_SV realizarán una investigación exhaustiva de los hechos ocurridos en el Estadio Cuscatlán.
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) May 21, 2023
Todos serán investigados: equipos, directivos, estadio, boletería, liga, federación, etc.
Sean quiénes sean los culpables, no quedarán en la impunidad.
El Salvador has a large fan base for both Alianza and FAS; Alianza is presently playing in the CONCACAF Champions League.
The Central American nation's national soccer team calls Estadio Cuscatlan its home field, where the El Salvador soccer stadium stampede tragedy took place.
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