Stampede in Yemen’s capital Sanaa, 80 people died

sanah At least 80 people were killed and 73 others injured in a stampede late on Wednesday at an event organized to distribute financial aid during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Yemen’s capital Sanaa. Officials and eyewitnesses of Huthi rebels have given this information. Abdel Rahman Ahmed and Yahia Mohsen, who were at the scene, said that armed Houthi rebels fired in the air to control the crowd, which hit a power line and exploded. Due to this people got scared and there was a stampede.

Several dead bodies are seen on the spot in the video of the incident circulated on social media. At the same time, many people are seen unconscious and many are seen screaming for help. Videos released by Houthi officials after the incident showed blood stains everywhere, people’s shoes and clothes scattered on the ground. Hundreds of poor people gathered at an event organized by merchants in the Old City when suddenly a stampede broke out, according to the Houthi-run Interior Ministry.

Eyewitnesses told that $10 was being distributed to each person as financial aid by local businessmen, for which people had gathered there. The ministry’s spokesman, Brigadier Abdel-Khaliq al-Aghari, accused the event of distributing funds without coordination with local authorities. According to a Houthi TV channel, a large number of injured people have been admitted to a nearby hospital. A senior health official, Motahar al-Marouni, said 80 people were killed in the accident. At the same time, at least 73 people have been injured, who have been admitted to Al-Thawra Hospital in Sana’a.

Houthi rebels immediately surrounded the school where the event was held. Common people including journalists are not being allowed to go there. According to the Houthi-run Interior Ministry, two organizers have been detained so far in this regard and the matter is under investigation. Houthi officials said they would pay a compensation of $2,000 each to the families of those who lost their lives, while the injured would be given about $400. Yemen’s capital is controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis.