(17 Oct 1996) Spanish/Nat
Guatemalan President, Alvaro Arzu, has declared three days of national mourning after up to a hundred fans died in a stampede in a soccer stadium.
The crush happened in a soccer stadium in Guatemala City when fans surged through a tunnel to watch a World Cup qualifying match against Costa Rica, Wednesday night.
Guatemala's top prosecutor said at least 83 people were trampled or suffocated to death, and hospitals said hundreds were injured.
Overwhelmed fire and ambulance services attempted to deal with the scale of the tragedy.
Injured fans were crammed into ambulances and taken to hospitals around the Guatemala City.
Many of the injured were suffering from an apparent lack of oxygen after being crushed in the Mateo Flores Stadium in the run up to a World Cup qualifying match against Costa Rica.
There are reports that overcrowding in the stadium led to at least 83 dead and hundreds injured. Too many tickets were apparently sold for the match.
Fans who were not allowed in tried to pass through a concrete causeway about 15 yards long and three yards wide into the stadium.
Witnesses said security forces could not stop them and the crowd surged through the gate, trampling and suffocating people inside.
Many of the dead had broken arms and legs, and lay with limbs twisted grotesquely.
Hospitals said about 180 people were treated for fractures, suffocation or shock.
More than 45,000 people, including the presidents of the two countries, packed the stands beyond capacity.
Fans crammed into every corner of the stadium for the match, dressed in blue and white, Guatemala's national colours. Apparently all gates were practically blocked.
President Alvaro Arzu declared three days of national mourning for what he called one of the worst tragedies to befall Guatemala.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
\"I have made the decision to suspend this match. I would like to ask of you a minute of silence for all those innocent victims. And I am hereby, right now, declaring a national state of mourning for the next three days.\"
SUPER CAPTION: Alvaro Arzu, President of Guatemala
The response -- from a shocked and bewildered crowd -- was muted.
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