Mexican health authorities said Wednesday that 4 people died during massive celebrations in downtown Mexico City after the national team’s victory over Ecuador secured a spot within the World Cup Round of 16.
Two women and one man were found unconscious on streets near the enduring Angel of Independence monument, where 1000’s had gathered Tuesday night to rejoice, Mexico City’s Health Secretariat said on the social platform X. The victims, who authorities said died of asphyxiation, were 48, 44 and 19 years old. Authorities didn’t provide additional details concerning the circumstances of the deaths.
Later Wednesday, Mexico City Health Secretary Nadine Gasman, told a news conference that one other man, about 30, was treated by emergency personnel after suffering an epileptic seizure, convulsions, and gastrointestinal bleeding. He died shortly afterward at a hospital of cardiorespiratory arrest.
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Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said on social media that emergency crews responded immediately after receiving reports of the three unconscious people, but they’d already died.
Brugada also urged the general public to rejoice “responsibly, fastidiously and with empathy.”
Fireworks lit up the sky across the Independence Monument — popularly often known as “El Ángel” — on Tuesday night as 1000’s of Mexicans celebrated along the five-kilometer (three-mile) Paseo de la Reforma, which links the capital’s essential square, the Zócalo, with Chapultepec Park.
In a video posted Tuesday on social media, Brugada said about 1.4 million people were celebrating within the streets and urged the general public to stop heading to the town center to ease overcrowding. As an alternative, she encouraged people to attend a concert by a well-liked cumbia band within the eastern a part of the town.
All of Mexico City seemed overwhelmed Tuesday night. Improvised bands sprang up on street corners, while carts loaded with rockets often known as “toritos” inched through streets so packed that individuals could barely move.
Bottles of alcohol were passed from hand at hand amongst young revelers as tons of more tried to push closer to the town center, some succeeding, many others turned back by the crush of the group.
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