Seven Arrested Following Tragic Stampede at Haiti's Laferrière Citadel

Tue Apr 14 2026 14:31:19 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Seven arrests have been made, including police officers, following a deadly stampede during a cultural festival at Haiti's Laferrière Citadel. The incident led to the loss of 25 lives, prompting an investigation and national mourning.

A tragic stampede at Haiti's Laferrière Citadel during a cultural event has left 25 people dead and seven arrested, including local police and heritage site staff. The incident has sparked an investigation as authorities seek accountability amidst ongoing societal unrest.

Seven people have been arrested in connection with a deadly stampede at a popular tourist destination in Haiti, the country's national police force says.

The incident took place on Saturday during an annual cultural festivity at the Laferrière Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site in northern Haiti.

Authorities initially reported that 30 people had been killed, but this number has been revised down to 25.

Among those arrested are five local police officers and two employees of the country's National Heritage Preservation Institute (ISPAN), which oversees the preservation of Haiti's major landmarks. They are currently in custody pending further legal action, police said.

An investigation into what happened has been launched, but Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé stated on Saturday that the stampede occurred during a tourist event attended by many young people at the site, located in the town of Milot.

He added that three days of national mourning for the victims would begin on Tuesday.

Milot Mayor Wesner Joseph told the Magik9 radio station on Monday that his administration was not aware of any planned activity at the citadel on Saturday and learned later that a local DJ had invited people there via TikTok.

Jean-Hérold Pérard, the site's engineer and a former ISPAN director, explained that one of the site's two entrances had been closed to collect visitors' fees. When it began to rain, people started forcing their way in, and alleged that gunshots were fired into the air, and tear gas was used, though it is unclear by whom.

People were pushing each other, and some died of asphyxiation, especially after they threw tear gas, Pérard noted.

Citadelle Laferrière, also known as Citadelle Henry, was constructed by revolutionary Henri Christophe shortly after Haiti gained independence from France. The historic fortress took over a decade to build and served as a crucial defense against potential attacks, symbolizing Haitian independence.

The tragedy underlines the ongoing struggles Haiti faces, grappling with widespread gang violence that has claimed thousands of lives.

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