At Least 12 Dead, More Than 100 Injured in Stampede at Soccer Stadium in El Salvador

The match was between Alianza and FAS in the stadium about 25 miles northeast of the capital

At least 12 people were killed and more than a hundred hospitalized on Saturday after fans pushed through a stadium access gate at a quarterfinal match in the Salvadoran league, causing a stampede, according to multiple reports and authorities.

An estimated 100 people were transported to medical centers, some in serious condition, from Cuscatlán Stadium, the National Civil Police reported, according to the Associated Press. The match was between Alianza and FAS in the stadium about 25 miles northeast of the capital.

In a portion of a press conference posted to Twitter by authorities, National Civil Police General Commissioner Mauricio Arriaza Chicas said via Twitter translation, "We are investigating, from the sale of the ticket office, the income of any access, but especially in the southern zone."

President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele said via a translated tweet, "The [National Police] and the [Office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of El Salvador] will carry out an exhaustive investigation of the events that occurred in the Cuscatlán Stadium. Everyone will be investigated: teams, managers, stadium, ticket office, league, federation, etc. Whoever the culprits are, they will not go unpunished."

TOPSHOT - A woman is held by other as she cries following a stampede during a football match between Alianza and FAS at Cuscatlan stadium in San Salvador, on May 20, 2023. Nine people were killed May 20, 2023 in a stampede at an El Salvador stadium where soccer fans had gathered to watch a local tournament, police said. (Photo by Milton FLORES / AFP) (Photo by MILTON FLORES/AFP via Getty Images)
MILTON FLORES/AFP via Getty

CNN reported, citing the director of the National Civil Protection System of El Salvador, Luis Alonso Amaya, that "a human stampede broke out due to the overselling of tickets, which has left 500 people affected."

The Central American Football Union released a statement on Sunday, saying the organization was "shocked and saddened" by what happened at the Stadium.

EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / Fans invade the pitch following a stampede during a football match between Alianza and FAS at Cuscatlan stadium in San Salvador on May 20, 2023. Twelve people were killed and hundreds injured Saturday in a stampede at an El Salvador soccer stadium, police and emergency services said. Authorities said initial reports pointed to a crush of fans who tried to enter Cuscatlan Stadium in the Central American country's capital San Salvador to watch a local tournament match between teams Alianza and FAS. (Photo by Gabriel AQUINO / AFP) (Photo by GABRIEL AQUINO/AFP via Getty Images)
GABRIEL AQUINO/AFP via Getty

"Our prayers and affection go to all the families, friends and all the people who were affected by the irreparable loss of their loved ones," the statement read, via Google translation. "The safety of all the people who attend the matches is of the utmost importance in order to guarantee the spectacle and their peace of mind."

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The statement concluded, "The Central American Union will collaborate with the entities in charge to guarantee that security is maintained so that it continues to be a show and thus avoid any accident that harms people."

The Salvadoran Soccer Federation said matches were suspended for Sunday and officials scheduled a meeting to address the deadly crush, according to the AP.

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