At least 25 people were killed and dozens more injured on Saturday in a stampede at the Citadelle Laferrière, a historic mountaintop fortress in northern Haiti, after an unusually large crowd gathered at the site following a social media event that quickly spiralled out of control. Haitian authorities confirmed the death toll, though earlier reports had suggested as many as 30 fatalities. The Haitian National Police have opened an investigation to determine the exact cause of the disaster.
The Citadelle Laferrière, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near the town of Milot in northern Haiti, is one of the largest fortresses in the Caribbean. Built in the early 19th century by formerly enslaved people following Haiti's successful revolution against French colonial rule, it stands as a powerful symbol of freedom and national identity. The site traditionally draws large crowds during the Easter period.
Saturday's tragedy was triggered by an event promoted on TikTok by a Haitian influencer with hundreds of thousands of followers, who advertised transport, drinks, and entertainment at the fortress. Visitors began arriving before the site officially opened, and the crowd swelled to exceptional numbers throughout the morning. When heavy rain broke out, the dense mass of people began to move at once, causing a deadly crush — particularly at the narrow entrance gates, only one of which had been opened. Witnesses described scenes of pushing and panic, with many victims, including children as young as 12, dying from suffocation or being trampled. The Milot town mayor, Wesner Joseph, confirmed that the majority of victims died from asphyxiation.
The influencer behind the event denied responsibility, stating he had already left the site when the incident occurred and that the gathering had nothing to do with him. According to the Haitian news portal AyiboPost, the event had not been authorised by local authorities, and the situation worsened as crowds tried to enter and exit the fortress through a single gate simultaneously.
The Haitian government, led by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, expressed deep shock and said all relevant authorities had been mobilised to provide immediate assistance to victims and their families. Officials urged the public to remain calm as investigations continued. The tragedy highlights the dangers of large, unregulated gatherings at heritage sites with limited infrastructure — and raises broader questions about the responsibilities of social media influencers in promoting mass events without coordination with local authorities.