Stampede at Haiti's Citadelle Kills at Least 30

At least 30 people died in a stampede at Haiti's Citadelle Laferrière, a historic mountaintop fortress in the northern town of Milot, on Saturday, as crowds gathered for the site's annual anniversary celebration, authorities reported.

The incident unfolded during a tourist outing that drew hundreds of visitors, including many young people and students, to the early 19th-century landmark, a UNESCO World Heritage site built by King Henri Christophe shortly after Haiti's independence from France. Officials described the fortress as one of the country's most popular attractions, symbolizing national sovereignty and resistance to colonialism. It features prominently on Haitian currency and in tourism promotions, and the surrounding region remains relatively stable amid broader security challenges elsewhere in the nation.

According to Jean Henri Petit, head of civil protection for Haiti's Nord Department, the stampede occurred at the entrance to the site as sudden rain began to fall. Crowds pushing to enter clashed with those trying to leave, leading to falls and trampling that caused deaths primarily from suffocation. Preliminary accounts indicated at least 13 bodies remained at the...