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Haiti Fires 2 Officials, Makes 9 Arrests After Citadelle Stampede Kills 25

The moves signal a push for accountability over safety lapses at a national heritage site.

Overview

  • Authorities set the death toll at 25 from the crush at the Citadelle entrance on Saturday, and officials said 30 injured people who were hospitalized have been released.
  • Nine suspects are in custody in the criminal inquiry, including five police officers and two employees of the agency that manages the fortress.
  • The Culture Ministry dismissed two directors for alleged negligence and said the state will assume responsibility for the administrative failures.
  • Investigators point to severe overcrowding and poor crowd control at a DJ-promoted event, with heavy rain driving people to run for cover and intensifying the panic.
  • The government declared three days of national mourning, underscoring concerns about oversight at a landmark seen as a symbol of Haitian sovereignty.