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At least 30 people died in a stampede at the Citadel Laferrière in northern Haiti on Saturday when large crowds gathered to celebrate an annual celebration at the historic site, officials said.Jean-Henri Petit, head of civil protection in Haiti’s Department of the North, said the stampede occurred at the entrance to the historic citadel, an early 19th-century building built shortly after the country’s independence from France.The landmark, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was packed with students and visitors attending the annual event. Beatty said overcrowding, combined with heavy rain, contributed to the situation rapidly deteriorating.Haiti’s Prime Minister, Alex Didier Felice-Aime, said in a statement that he “offers his sincere condolences to the bereaved families and assures them of his deep solidarity during this period of mourning and great suffering.”He added that “many young people” were among those attending, although authorities have not yet confirmed the identities of the victims or provided a detailed breakdown of losses.Officials said emergency teams were responding at the scene, and warned that the death toll could rise as more information emerges.
