Haiti Stampede Tragedy: 9 Arrested, Including State Officials After Deadly Citadel Crowd Disaster Leaves 30 Dead
Haitian authorities have arrested nine people, including two state officials, following a deadly stampede at the historic Citadelle fortress that left at least 30 people dead and dozens injured.
The tragedy occurred in the town of Milot during a weekend event held at the UNESCO-listed site, a popular tourist destination in northern Haiti. Officials say overcrowding and poor crowd control appear to have triggered the chaos.
The gathering was reportedly organised by a local DJ and heavily promoted on social media, drawing a large crowd to the mountaintop fortress. The situation quickly spiralled out of control, leading to panic and a fatal stampede.
Haiti’s Ministry of Culture and Communication confirmed disciplinary action in the aftermath, announcing the dismissal of a director from the country’s Institute for the Preservation of National Heritage. The ministry accused him of “serious negligence.” Another senior official was also removed for what authorities described as “biased passivity.”
Among those arrested are five police officers and two employees linked to the heritage institute responsible for overseeing the Citadelle site.
A government delegation, including ministers from Defence, Interior, Culture, and Tourism, visited the site as investigations continue into how the incident unfolded and whether proper safety measures were in place.
Cap-Haïtien prosecutor Eno Zephirin confirmed that investigators are still working to establish the exact cause of the stampede.
The nation remains in mourning as questions grow over crowd management failures and accountability at one of Haiti’s most iconic landmarks.
