Stampede at Citadelle Laferrière Kills At Least 30 — UNESCO Heritage Site Closed

At least 30 people were killed and dozens more hospitalized after a deadly stampede at Citadelle Laferrière, a historic UNESCO World Heritage mountaintop fortress near Milot in Haiti's Nord Department, on Saturday April 11–12, 2026. The incident occurred during a large youth tourist activity organized at the 19th-century fortification when a crush of people formed at the entrance to the site, reportedly triggered by panic after police used tear gas nearby to break up a fight, and worsened by rain on the steep mountainside approaches. Haiti's government confirmed the death toll and offered condolences to victims' families. Local officials feared the toll could rise further given the number of people reported missing and the difficult terrain hampering rescue operations. The site was immediately closed to visitors 'until further notice.' Citadelle Laferrière — completed in 1820 under King Henri Christophe — is Haiti's most iconic landmark and a symbol of the country's post-independence history. The tragedy struck amid Haiti's profound ongoing crisis: the country has not held national elections since 2019, 90% of the capital is under gang control, and 6.4 million people require humanitarian assistance. International media widely covered the event, highlighting the juxtaposition of a national heritage tragedy against the country's existing catastrophe.