Overview
- The crush at the Citadel Laferrière in Milot, which unfolded Saturday, left at least 30 people dead as authorities continue to identify victims.
- Heavy rain set the tightly packed crowd in motion at the entrance, where only one gate and narrow, tunnel-like passages created a choke point.
- Local reports say many victims were adolescents or children, and the mayor said most deaths were from asphyxiation after people were trampled.
- The surge followed a TikTok-promoted meetup by an influencer that drew large early arrivals without municipal approval, and the influencer denied responsibility.
- Haiti’s government said it has mobilized emergency services and launched an investigation, highlighting safety gaps when large, unregulated crowds gather at historic sites with limited access.