The football players had to save the children from the distraught crowd.
May 2023 will forever remain the worst month in the history of football in El Salvador. Tens of thousands of fans filled the stands of the local stadium in anticipation of great football and thrills.
No one could have imagined that for many of them going to the match would be the last in their lives.
“Forcibly burst into the stands”
The return quarter-final match of the playoffs of the El Salvador championship between the Alliance and FAS teams aroused great interest among the fans. All tickets have been sold. Nearly 45,000 fans were expected at the Cuscatlan stadium.
The teams managed to spend only 15 minutes on the field, after which the match had to be stopped due to a crush at one of the entrances. According to the police, it was provoked by aggressive fans who tried to get into the stadium with fake tickets.
“We saw how many people gathered at the entrances, four gates were closed, but people still tried to enter. The organizers opened them from time to time, but then closed them again. This went on until the people fell into despair. Due to the fact that they had nothing to breathe, and under the influence of emotions, they burst into the stands by force, ”Elsalvador.com quotes the words of a fan who wished to remain anonymous.
In response, law enforcement officers used tear gas, but this only aggravated the situation.
“At least 12 people died”
The crowd that broke into the stands caused a stampede, in which there were no casualties. Physicians and caring citizens were simply not able to provide normal assistance in the stands, and it turned out to be impossible to break through the numerous fans.
The victims were taken out directly to the field, where they were given first aid. The bodies of the dead were piled there. Many players have not been left behind. They carried the wounded on their hands. Particularly poignant were the shots in which the players of both teams carried children onto the lawn.
The scale of the tragedy became clear only later. From the line of ambulances lined up outside the stadium, it could be concluded that there were indeed many victims. But the figures published in the official report were shocking.
A team of Civil Protection, the Ministry of Health, the National Civil Police and relief forces helped hundreds of people after a stampede at the entrance to the city of Sol General at the Cuscatlán Stadium, which killed at least 12 people, the statement said. report.
Director of Civil Protection Luis Amaya gave more accurate figures for the victims. More than 500 people asked for help at the stadium, 100 of them were hospitalized with various injuries.
The police will have to deal with the high-profile incident under the personal control of President Salvador Nayiba Bukele. The head of state promised through social networks to punish all those responsible.
– The National Civil Police and the Attorney General of El Salvador will conduct an investigation into the events that took place at the Cuscatlán stadium. They will check everyone who could be involved: teams, managers, stadium, box office, league, federation, etc. Whoever is the culprit will not go unpunished, Bukele said in a statement.
The number of victims of this terrible tragedy may still increase. According to local press reports, several people were taken to hospitals in serious condition.
2023-05-22 09:29:19
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