Tragic stampede kills at least 30 people, including locals and tourists, at an ancient fortress atop a mountain, a well-known tourist site in northern Haiti. The cause is believed to be overcrowding and failed crowd control.
On 13 April 2026, international news agencies reported a tragic incident at the famous tourist site "Citadelle Laferrière," a mountain fortress and key attraction in northern Haiti. A crowd of locals and tourists panicked and trampled each other, resulting in at least 30 deaths and many injuries.
The Cap-Haitien municipality stated that the incident occurred last Saturday local time in the city of Milot, during a festival attended by many people. This led to widespread suffocation, trampling, and loss of consciousness among attendees.
Officials said dozens were hospitalized and several remain missing. Preliminary causes are believed to be severe overcrowding combined with ineffective crowd management, which triggered chaos and the stampede.
The Haitian government issued a statement expressing condolences to the families of the victims. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Haitian National Police said an investigation has been launched to determine the true cause. They also noted about 30 injured remain hospitalized and urged the public to refrain from spreading rumors.
Source: Reuters