At least two dead in Mexico City crush as over a million fans celebrate World Cup win
At least two people died of asphyxiation when large crowds gathered in downtown Mexico City to celebrate the national team's World Cup victory over Ecuador, authorities said.
The match and the celebration
On Tuesday night, Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0 in the round of 32 at the Azteca Stadium, securing a place in the World Cup round of 16 for the first time since 1986. Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored the goals. An estimated one million people poured onto Paseo de la Reforma and around the Angel of Independence monument, waving flags, setting off fireworks, and chanting.
We urge the public to celebrate responsibly, carefully and with empathy.
The fatalities
In the early hours of Wednesday, emergency crews responded to reports of unconscious people near the Angel of Independence. Mexico City's Health Secretariat confirmed the deaths of at least two people from suffocation: a 44-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman. The Associated Press reported a third victim, a 48-year-old woman, while Le Figaro cited at least four dead. The victims were found on Hamburgo and Lancaster streets, where the crowd density was extreme.
A city overwhelmed
Mayor Clara Brugada said about one million people were in the streets and urged revelers to stop heading to the city center. Bottles of alcohol were passed among young people, and improvised bands played on corners. The crush of the crowd turned back many who tried to push closer to the monument.
- Mexico defeats Ecuador 2-0 in World Cup round of 32, advancing to round of 16.
- Over 1 million fans celebrate in Mexico City streets; seismic vibrations detected.
- Three people found unconscious near Angel of Independence, later confirmed dead from asphyxiation.
- Mayor Clara Brugada urges responsible celebration and confirms deaths.
A rare moment of collective joy
For many Mexicans, the tournament has offered a reprieve from years of cartel violence and disappearances. More than 130,000 people are officially missing in the country. Ramses Rincón, a college student celebrating in the streets, said the victory was a needed relief.
We needed this after all this time of bad news; we needed a relief from all of those things that we face as a country.
Seismic celebrations
The celebrations were so intense that a Raspberry Shake seismograph near the stadium recorded an artificial signal. Mexico's SASSLA platform said the mass cheering produced vibrations in the local area, a phenomenon also observed during Mexico's 2018 World Cup match against Germany.
