The accident happened during a charity distribution in Sanaa’s old town.
At least 85 people have been trampled to death in a crowd in the center of Sana’a, the capital of Yemen, according to health officials of the Houthi rebels. In addition, more than 300 people are said to have been injured.
The accident happened during a charity distribution in Sanaa’s old town.
Witnesses say that Houthi rebels who were present fired warning shots into the air in an attempt to control the huge crowd. One of the bullets apparently hit a power line, causing an explosion. This in turn caused panic in the crowd.
The rebels’ Ministry of the Interior blamed the organization of the charity distribution for the incident, which, according to the ministry, had not coordinated the event with the local authorities in advance. Those responsible for the charity distribution have been arrested.
The capital, Sanaa, is held by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Yemen, located at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, has been experiencing a serious humanitarian crisis and civil war for years. The civil war began in 2014, when Iran-backed Houthi rebels took control of Sana’a.
Sources: AFP, Reuters, AP