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Haiti carnival accident kills at least 18 in capital | Haiti carnival accident kills at least 18 in capital |
(about 3 hours later) | |
At least 18 people have died after a power line fell on to a carnival float in the Haitian capital, Port au Prince. | At least 18 people have died after a power line fell on to a carnival float in the Haitian capital, Port au Prince. |
Witnesses said someone on the float used a stick to move the power line to let the float pass, the Associated Press news agency reported. | Witnesses said someone on the float used a stick to move the power line to let the float pass, the Associated Press news agency reported. |
A doctor at a nearby hospital told the news agency that at least 18 people had died. Some were electrocuted, others died in the panic which ensued. | A doctor at a nearby hospital told the news agency that at least 18 people had died. Some were electrocuted, others died in the panic which ensued. |
Officials said another 60 people had been injured. | Officials said another 60 people had been injured. |
The float, one of 16 in the parade, was sponsored by the Haitian hip-hop group Barikad Crew. | The float, one of 16 in the parade, was sponsored by the Haitian hip-hop group Barikad Crew. |
President Michel Martelly gave his condolences to the victims on Twitter. | President Michel Martelly gave his condolences to the victims on Twitter. |
"My sincere sympathy to the victims of the serious incident at Champ de Mars on the second day of carnival," the president tweeted in French. | "My sincere sympathy to the victims of the serious incident at Champ de Mars on the second day of carnival," the president tweeted in French. |
Witnesses said some people managed to jump off the float, causing panic amid the crowd surrounding it. | Witnesses said some people managed to jump off the float, causing panic amid the crowd surrounding it. |
"I saw the wire falling and sparks and I started running for my life," Natacha Saint Fleur told the Associated Press. | "I saw the wire falling and sparks and I started running for my life," Natacha Saint Fleur told the Associated Press. |
Thousands of people had been attending the carnival in the capital when the accident happened. | Thousands of people had been attending the carnival in the capital when the accident happened. |