12 people killed in stampede at Central America's largest stadium
At least 12 people were killed and an undetermined number injured in a stampede at a soccer stadium on Saturday, El Salvador's government said in a statement. The stadium is one of the largest in Central America and has an official capacity of more than 44,000 fans.
The second half of a playoff quarterfinal match between Alianza FC and Club Deportivo FAS in El Salvador was suspended due to a stampede in the stands of the largest stadium in Central America.
"The Salvadoran Football Federation deeply regrets the events that occurred at the Cuscatlan Stadium," the organization wrote on Twitter.
"It also expresses solidarity with the relatives of those affected and deceased in this incident."
TOURNAMENT SUSPENDED
The federation announced it would suspend the tournament following Saturday's events and demanded an immediate report on the incident.
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said the National Civil Police and the Attorney General's Office would conduct a "thorough investigation" into the events at the stadium.
"Everyone will be investigated: teams, managers, stadium, box office, league, federation, etc. Whoever the culprits are, they will not go unpunished," Bukele wrote on Twitter.
The incident comes after 135 people were killed in a deadly stampede at a stadium in East Java, Indonesia, in October last year.
Many people left the scene after police fired tear gas into the crowd.
News source: Reuters
Photo source: AP News
