At least 12 people have died, and hundreds of people were injured in a stampede that occurred Saturday at the Custcatlán soccer stadium in the city of San Salvador, El Salvador.
El Salvador's National Civil Police (PNC) reported that the stampede occurred when a group of fans who were outside tried to enter the stadium by breaking down a security fence at one of the gates. The police agency and the country's Public Prosecutor's Office immediately opened an investigation to determine the origin and identify possible perpetrators of this incident.
"Lamentamos este incidente en el cual hay fallecidos. Como institución policial informamos que en conjunto con la @FGR_SV vamos a llegar hasta los últimos detalles de una investigación criminal del incidente de esta noche"@Director_PNC pic.twitter.com/0q2CGJGCw0
— PNC El Salvador (@PNCSV) May 21, 2023
A game between the teams of Alianza and FAS was being played at the Custcatlán stadium at the time, the second leg of the quarter-final of the Clausura 2023 tournament, and consequently had to be canceled. Afterward, the Federation announced the suspension of all matches on Sunday, May 21, and requested an urgent Security Commission of Sports Venues meeting. The Attorney General of El Salvador, Rodolfo Delgado, announced that the investigations will include the management of the two sports clubs and many others involved in the game.
Las investigaciones incluyen la actuación de EDESSA y las dirigencias de los Clubes involucrados.
— Rodolfo Delgado (@FiscalGeneralSV) May 21, 2023
The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, said that there would be no impunity for those responsible for this tragedy and announced that the investigation will be carried out on all those possibly involved in the incident, including the soccer federation, the league and those in charge of ticket sales.
Everyone will be investigated: teams, managers, stadium, box office, league, federation, etc. Whoever the culprits are, they will not go unpunished.
La @PNCSV y la @FGR_SV realizarán una investigación exhaustiva de los hechos ocurridos en el Estadio Cuscatlán.
Todos serán investigados: equipos, directivos, estadio, boletería, liga, federación, etc.
Sean quiénes sean los culpables, no quedarán en la impunidad.
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) May 21, 2023
A few witnesses gave a first glimpse into the situation inside the stadium. One of the fans pointed out that there were only two open gates in the entire stadium, which were then closed prematurely, causing the fans to push and shove their way in and produce the subsequent stampede, killing at least 12 people.
🔴 #AHORA | "Cerraron la puerta", el testimonio de una aficionado que concurrió al Estadio Cuscatlán, en El Salvador y fue testigo de la estampida humana.pic.twitter.com/UndvtSP7yb
— Mundo en Conflicto 🌎 (@MundoEConflicto) May 21, 2023
Estamos agilizando la entrada y salida de ambulancias al Estadio Cuscatlán.
Pedimos a la población apartarse y permitir el paso de las ambulancias. pic.twitter.com/gbmimFZuD5
— PNC El Salvador (@PNCSV) May 21, 2023
