Haiti declares three days of mourning after deadly stampede at historic Citadelle 

Haiti’s government has declared three days of national mourning and says it will cover the funeral costs for the victims after a deadly crowd surge at the Citadelle Laferrière in Cap-Haitien, northern Haiti, left 25 people dead.

The Sunday evening announcement came after an emergency cabinet meeting led by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, as the country continues to absorb the scale of the tragedy that unfolded April 11 in Milot. Officials said the nation will observe a period of mourning from April 14 to April 16, with flags flown at half-staff across the country. Officials described the move as a gesture of solidarity with grieving families.

Authorities also confirmed the state will take charge of funeral expenses for the victims, many of them young people who had gathered at the historic fortress for a widely promoted social media event.

The deadly incident happened during a large youth gathering called ‘Citadel Vibe 3.0’ launched and promoted by several social media influencers, which drew thousands of people to the mountaintop fortress in Milot. Authorities say the number of attendees far exceeded the site’s capacity.

Scenes from the aftermath captured the depth of the loss.

In Milot, residents wept as men carried bodies wrapped in white sheets through the streets a day after the tragedy, reflecting the grief spreading across communities in the north.

The government said it has deployed officials, including the Minister of the Interior, to the region to support victims and families, while emergency teams continue responding on the ground.

As the outcry grows over crowd control and safety failures at large public gatherings, officials also pledged to continue the ongoing investigation and said those responsible will face justice.

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