Chaos erupted at the entrance to the Laferriere fortress in Nord province on 11/4, as a large crowd of students and tourists gathered for the annual festival at the historical site. Pushing and shoving led to a stampede, exacerbated by heavy rain, according to Jean Henri Petit, Director of the Civil Protection Agency of Nord province, who spoke on 12/4.

Provincial officials initially reported 30 fatalities but later corrected the count to 25 dead. More than 30 individuals are currently receiving hospital treatment.

Preliminary assessments point to severe overcrowding and deficiencies in crowd management as the causes of the pushing, shoving, and subsequent stampede. Many victims suffered from suffocation and unconsciousness.

Shoes of stampede victims at the entrance to the Laferriere fortress historical site in northern Haiti, 12/4. *AP*.

As of 12/4, the bodies of some victims remained at the scene. Haitian police are investigating the tragedy to determine its cause.

The Laferriere fortress, one of Haiti's most popular tourist attractions, was built in the early 19th century, shortly after the nation gained independence from France. The historical park complex received UNESCO World Heritage designation in 1982.

Laferriere fortress in northern Haiti. *Wikipedia*.

Donaldson Jean shared that his sister visited the fortress after diligent study, earning a spot on a field trip for outstanding students. He wept as he carried his sister's body from the site.

"Every day my sister studied from morning until night to be part of the gifted student program", he said. "Before dinner, she often came to me for help with her homework. Now I have lost her."

This stampede occurred as Haiti grapples with widespread gang violence.

The island nation has also faced a series of recent disasters, including a 2024 fuel tank explosion that killed 20 people and a 2021 earthquake resulting in 2,000 deaths.