Ministry of Interior: dozens killed due to a stampede during a random distribution of sums of money

SANAA, April 20 (YPA) – At least 78 people were killed and dozens more suffered injuries due to a stampede at an event to distribute financial aid in Yemen’s capital late Wednesday.

The crush took place in the Old City in the center of Sanaa when hundreds of poor people gathered at the event organized by merchants without coordination with local authorities.

Commenting on the incident, spokesman of the Ministry of Interior in Sana’a government, Abdul Khaliq Al-Ajri, said that “what happened on Wednesday’s night is a tragic and painful accident, where dozens were killed and many others injured due to a stampede that broke out during a charity distribution by some traders without coordination and organizing with the concerned bodies.

“Dozens of people were killed due to a stampede during a random distribution of sums of money by some merchants, ” he said in a statement.

The statement said the dead and injured have been taken to nearby hospitals, two of the traders have been arrested and investigation is under way.

E.M