At least 30 people were killed in a stampede at a popular tourist destination in Haiti.

At least 30 people, mostly young people, were killed and dozens of vacationers were injured in a stampede at a mountain fortress in northern Haiti. The site is a popular tourist attraction, writes The Guardian.

Jean-Henri Petit, head of the civil protection service for the northern department of the country, reported that the incident occurred on April 11 at the Henri Christophe Fortress, known as the Citadelle La Ferrière. This large 19th-century bastion was built after the country gained independence from France.

Petit told local newspaper Le Nouvelliste that the death toll could rise due to the large number of missing persons. Several dozen people were taken to hospitals, the newspaper reported.

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According to initial reports, visitors to the attraction had gathered at one entrance, resulting in a scuffle between those entering and leaving.

Other local media reported that the site was hosting an event that was shared on TikTok. They reported that police used excessive amounts of tear gas to break up a fight near the citadel, causing panic that led to a stampede.

The country's Minister of Culture, Emmanuel Ménard, confirmed the death of 30 people.

"The victims are currently receiving the necessary medical care, and rescue teams are searching for the missing," he said.

According to him, the fortress, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1982, will be temporarily closed to visitors.

The Haitian Prime Minister's office expressed deep sorrow and noted that the stampede occurred during "a tourist event that brought together a large number of young people."

The government has called on citizens to remain calm while the investigation is underway.

"All relevant authorities are fully mobilized and on high alert to provide the necessary assistance and support without delay," the authorities said in a statement.

Haiti continues to face widespread gang violence, which is perpetrating mass killings of civilians. Security forces are taking a very harsh approach.

Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, has been hit hard by rising oil prices caused by the conflict involving Iran. On April 2, the government announced a 37% and 29% increase in diesel fuel and gasoline prices.

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Rising oil prices have disrupted vital supply chains, doubled transportation costs, and forced millions of undernourished people to cut back on their already meager diets.

The country has experienced a number of disasters in recent years, including a fuel tank explosion in 2024 that killed two dozen people, a tank explosion in 2021 that killed 90 people, and an earthquake that same year that killed nearly 2000 people.

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