World

Haiti cancels carnival after at least 16 die in float tragedy

JACQUELINE CHARLES

Miami Herald
Families and friends light candles on a memorial during a vigil at the site of an accident that left at least 16 people dead in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday. Officials say a man on top of a musical group’s float was shocked by high-voltage wires above the street, setting off a panic in which dozens of people were trampled.
Families and friends light candles on a memorial during a vigil at the site of an accident that left at least 16 people dead in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday. Officials say a man on top of a musical group’s float was shocked by high-voltage wires above the street, setting off a panic in which dozens of people were trampled. Dieu Nalio Chery Associated Press
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti

Carnival festivities throughout Haiti were canceled Tuesday after at least 16 people were killed in an accident earlier in the day on the Champ de Mars near downtown Port-au-Prince.

Prime Minister Evans Paul declared a national period of mourning beginning Wednesday until Saturday when funerals will be held.

“It is clear what happened was an accident,” Paul said during a televised news conference.

The tragedy occurred after a carnival float, transporting fans and members of Barikad Crew, passed underneath a low-hanging power line along a narrow packed street. The band had just passed in front of President Michel Martelly, who was viewing the celebrations, and was on its way to the soccer stadium when the accident happened near the Hotel Plaza.

Band manager Youri Chevry told the Miami Herald that singer Fantom was in stable condition at a local hospital. He said doctors said they were surprised that the singer didn’t suffer a heart attack or die after coming in contact with the power line.

“They are holding him for 24 hours to see what happens,” Chevry said. “They think he will recover quickly.”

The government has confirmed that at least 16 people were killed and 78 were injured early Tuesday at the end of the second day of the celebration.

Chevry, who was following the float on foot, said “Fantom thought he had cleared the power line. Our float was high and he was standing up. He was talking and from the video footage I saw, his head hit the power line.”

Panic quickly ensued with some people getting trampled and even electrocuted on the ground, Chevry said. Emergency medical personnel, who were part of first lady Sophia Martelly’s carnival response team, immediately responded, removing people off the float and transporting them first to the medical stand and then local hospitals.

A brief video on Twitter shows electricity striking Fantom’s microphone in a flashing spark, and panic ensuing.

He was the only member of the six-member group who was injured. Others, however, weren’t as lucky.

Some people on the float, and others on the ground, were killed after being electrocuted.

Nadia Lochard, coordinator for the Department of Civil Protection for the Port-Au-Prince region, told the Herald that officials were making the rounds at hospitals to find out how many were injured or died. She said authorities are reviewing video footage to find out what exactly sparked the accident.

Government spokesman Rotchild Francois said the accident occurred at 2:48 a.m.

Carnival returned to Port-au-Prince for the first time in three years this year after being held in other cities. The national pre-Lenten celebration was scheduled to end Wednesday.

Paul has invited Haitians to wear white beginning at 5 p.m. on the Champ de Mars in solidarity with those who lost their lives.

“We want for all fans to know we are alive. Fantom is alive and he’s in the hospital,” Chevry said. “We are asking everyone to pray for him.”

This story was originally published February 17, 2015 at 10:56 PM with the headline "Haiti cancels carnival after at least 16 die in float tragedy."

Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER