Five dead and dozens injured after stadium collapses during Colombian bullfight
Dozens have been injured and at least five people have died during a bullfight in Colombia after the improvised wooden stadium collapsed.
Footage shows the stands crumbling during a “correlaja”, an event where spectators jump into the ring to run alongside the bulls, in El Espina in Tolima as part of the annual San Juan and San Pedro festivities, per 9News.
According to reports, at least one bull has escaped the stadium into neighbouring streets.
“At this moment, we have four (dead) victims confirmed - two women, an adult man and a minor - plus about 30 people seriously injured,” Governor Ricardo Orozco told local radio outlet BlueRadio Colombia.
“Of course, we have activated all the hospitals and ambulances we can work with.”
#SOSEspinal necesitamos el apoyo de los organismos de socorro, ambulancia, médicos para atender la emergencia, hay una emergencia. @DefensaCivilCo @NoticiasCaracol @CanalRCN @MONYRODRIGUEZOF @cruzrojacol @DCoronell pic.twitter.com/2BI5sEuziS
— Ivan Ferney Rojas M. (@IvanRojasCR) June 26, 2022
However, there are fears the number of injured could be much higher, with Major Luis Fernando Vélez, director of the civil defence department, telling a local radio station that “there is talk of 500 wounded”.
A statement released by the Mayor’s Office of Espinal said they “deeply regret what happened in the building”.
“We want to call for calm to the entire community,” it read.
“Once the emergency became known, the relief agencies acted immediately, achieving the evacuation of the injured for primary care at the San Rafael Hospital in the municipality.”
But, one local councillor told newspaper El Tiempo that local hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of patients.
“We still need support from ambulances and neighbouring hospitals, many people are still unattended,” Iván Ferney Rojas told the publication.
The incident has also brought bullfighting into the spotlight, with president-elect Gustavo Petro calling for the events to stop.
“This has already happened before in Sincelejo,” he tweeted.
“I ask the mayors not to authorise more shows with the death of people or animals.”
Mr Orozco also confirmed on Twitter that the incident is being attended to by the departmental risk management committee and extraordinary security council.
Image: 9News