At least nine people have been killed and dozens more are injured after being “smothered” during a stampede at a football stadium in El Salvador.
The chaos unfolded as supporters pushed through one of the access gates at the Monumental venue in Cuscatlan, around 25 miles northeast of the capital San Salvador.
It was hosting a match between clubs Alianza and FAS in the quarter-finals of the country’s premier division.
Footage showed dozens of fans charge on to the field before the game had even kicked off, in what one first aid volunteer described as an “avalanche”.
“It was an avalanche of fans who overran the gate,” said the member of the Rescue Commandos group.
“Some were still under the metal in the tunnel.
“Others managed to make it to the stands and then to the field and were smothered.”
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Police said nine people had died, and at least two of those injured were in a critical condition in hospital.
Some of those hurt received medical treatment on the pitch.
In a statement, the Salvadoran Soccer Federation – the country’s equivalent of the FA – said it regretted what had happened and voiced support for the victims’ families.
