SANAA, YEMEN (AP) – A crowd apparently panicked by gunfire and an electrical explosion stampeded at an event to distribute financial aid during the holy month Ramadhan in Yemen’s capital late on Wednesday, killing at least 78 people and injuring at least 73 others, according to witnesses and Houthi rebel officials.
The tragedy was Yemen’s deadliest in years that was not related to the country’s long-running war, and came ahead of the holiday of Hari Raya Aidilfitri which marks the end of Ramadhan later this week.
Armed Houthis fired into the air in an attempt at crowd control, apparently striking an electrical wire and causing it to explode, according to two witnesses, Abdel-Rahman Ahmed and Yahia Mohsen. That sparked a panic, and people, including many women and children, began stampeding, they said.
Video posted on social media showed dozens of bodies, some motionless, and others screaming as people tried to help. Separate footage of the aftermath released by Houthi officials showed bloodstains, shoes and victims’ clothing scattered on the ground.
Investigators were seen examining the area.
The crush took place in the Old City in the centre of Sanaa, where hundreds of poor people had gathered for a charity event organised by merchants, according to the Houthi-run Interior Ministry.
