This 19th-century fortress is one of the most popular tourist attractions in this Caribbean country, and on Saturday it was packed with students and visitors. The site, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list and located in the north of this island nation, reportedly hosted an annual celebration marking the day the fortress was protected as a World Heritage site.
Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé confirmed that "many young people" were present but did not identify the victims or provide an estimate of the final death toll.
In a statement, he extended his "sincere condolences to the bereaved families and assured them of his deep solidarity during this time of mourning and great suffering."
Jean Henri Petit, the head of civil protection for Haiti's Nord department, stated that the accident occurred at the entrance to the site and was further aggravated by rain.
This Caribbean country has been plagued by gang violence for years, with gangs now controlling large parts of the country, including up to 90 percent of the capital Port-au-Prince, according to UN data.
Armed with smuggled weapons, gangs terrorize civilians through killings, kidnappings, and sexual violence.
Recent disasters have also taken their toll, including fuel tank explosions in 2021 and 2024, which killed 90 and 24 people respectively, as well as the 2021 earthquake that claimed about 2,000 lives.