As the Mexican football team advanced to the last 16 round of the FIFA World Cup, the people of Mexico City came out to celebrate, but the celebrations turned tragic as a minimum of 4 people lost their lives.
The festivities started late Tuesday following Mexico’s World Cup knockout stage triumph at the historic Azteca Stadium for the first time in 40 years.
Tens of thousands of people crammed the streets of the capital, especially around the monument of the Angel of Independence, where large numbers of people have celebrated major sporting events in the past.
Health officials in Mexico City reported that three people died from asphyxiation after being trapped by extremely dense crowds: a 19-year-old woman, a 44-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman.
Read more: Mexico end four-decade knockout curse
Emergency personnel and police officers made an effort to locate the victims and resuscitate them before taking them to hospitals, however without success.
Further details of exactly what happened during the incidents have not been made public.
Health officials announced a fourth death later on Wednesday.
During the festivities, one man, aged 30, had an epileptic fit, and was transported to the hospital, where he died after a period of cardiorespiratory arrest.
In a message of condolences to the families of the victims, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed the government’s solidarity with them and its readiness to give them “all the support they will need.”
Mexico City’s Mayor Clara Brugada also showed empathy, and encouraged fans to enjoy the World Cup responsibly.
These authorities had already mobilised emergency staff and security before the festivities, but some parts of the city centre were overrun by the huge number of people.
Now Mexico takes on England in the round of 16 on Sunday with the game scheduled to be played in Mexico City once again.
Also read: Mexico becomes World Cup’s first team to qualify for knockout stage
