At least nine people lost their lives in a fatal stampede that occurred during a football match between Alliance and FAS at the Cuscatlán stadium in Salvador. This information comes from the Associated Press, citing data from the national police.
Officials stated that during the match a surge of fans overwhelmed one of the entrances as panic set in. The resulting crowd crush caused a dangerous bottleneck and a rapid buildup of movement that trapped many spectators and hindered their ability to retreat or seek safer areas.
Dozens more sustained injuries as a consequence of the chaotic scene. Among the injured, at least two were hospitalized and are reported to be in critical condition as medical teams work to stabilize them and provide urgent care.
A witness described the chaos as an avalanche of fans rushing the doors, with some individuals managing to break through into the stands and then onto the field before becoming overwhelmed by the grip of the crowd and the ensuing panic.
Earlier reports mentioned fans in Yerevan and described a stampede at an open gathering with bloggers Anya Pokrov and Artur Babich. As new information continues to emerge, authorities are reviewing security measures, crowd control protocols, and the sequence of events that led to the incident to prevent similar tragedies in the future.