Haiti declared three days of national mourning on Sunday following a deadly stampede that killed 25 people. The tragedy struck during an annual celebration at the Laferriere Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site packed with students and visitors.
Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé announced the mourning period in a national address. He said it would begin on Tuesday. The government also committed to covering funeral expenses for all victims.
Earlier in the day, authorities revised the death toll downward. Emmanuel Pierre, head of Haiti’s civil protection authority, told Reuters the confirmed number of fatalities was 25 — reduced from an initial count of 30.
The Laferriere Citadel is an early 19th-century fortress built shortly after Haiti gained independence from France. It draws large crowds each year for celebrations honoring the site’s cultural and historical significance.
Details about what triggered the stampede have not been fully disclosed. However, the combination of a large crowd — including many students — in the confined spaces of a centuries-old mountain fortress created conditions where a sudden surge could turn fatal quickly.
The disaster adds to the long list of challenges facing Haiti, a country already grappling with political instability, gang violence, and humanitarian crises. For now, the nation pauses to mourn.