Mexican Officials Vow New Safety Protocols After World Cup Celebrations Turn Deadly

MEXICO CITY — After Mexico’s 2-0 triumph complete Ecuador successful nan first information of nan knockout shape of nan World Cup, fans streamed into nan streets present to celebrate, blowing horns, waving flags and shouting: “Let’s spell to nan Angel!”

An estimated 1 cardinal group had flocked to nan Angel of Independence, a towering monument connected Mexico City’s main boulevard, to watch nan crippled connected monolithic screens. More revelers headed location aft nan lucifer to party. Red, greenish and achromatic fireworks exploded, euphony boomed and strangers danced and shouted together.

But nan thoroughfare was overmuch excessively crowded. Panic surged, and galore fans recovered themselves packed together pinch nary clear escape.

Three group died from suffocation, authorities said. A 4th reveler died from a bosom attack.

The calamity dampened what had been nation-wide jubilation complete nan unexpected triumphs of El Tri, arsenic Mexico’s nationalist squad is known. The squad has won 4 matches successful a statement astatine Estadio Azteca, Mexico City’s legendary stadium, elevating it for first clip successful 4 decades to nan information of 16 shape of nan competition.

Mexico’s improbable tally aft years of failing to make it retired of nan group shape has sparked a emotion of corporate hope, a uncommon commodity successful a state battling powerful supplier cartels, a stagnant system and unprecedented unit from President Trump. An informal motto has emerged here: “¿Y si?” It intends “What if?” What if Mexico’s squad is able, somehow, to propulsion disconnected nan extraordinary?

The country’s monolithic celebrations person made world headlines, pinch videos of exuberant fans rocking cars and moreover buses going viral. During nan Ecuador match, truthful galore fans jumped simultaneously aft Mexico scored that seismographs present registered “artificial earthquakes.”

But location has been a acheronian broadside to nan revelry. Two different tragedies person besides marred celebrations here.

In Cabo San Lucas past month, a crowd rejoicing complete Mexico’s triumph complete nan Czech Republic rocked a car successful nan street. The driver accelerated, wounding 17 people. A akin incident successful Chihuahua City aft Mexico’s triumph complete South Korea besides resulted successful injuries.

As Mexico’s squad prepares to return connected England connected Sunday night, a lucifer that galore foretell will beryllium nan toughest yet for El Tri, authorities nationwide are vowing to fortify information protocols.

Authorities successful Mexico City opportunity they will again erect screens on nan Paseo de la Reforma, nan capital’s iconic thoroughfare, but will abstraction them retired to support crowds from congregating astatine a azygous point.

Mayor Clara Brugada discouraged fans for going to nan Angel monument, saying nan metropolis would connection celebrations astatine different locations.

President Claudia Sheinbaum said authorities were investigating what went incorrect during nan deadly stampede astatine nan Angel — but deflected blasted from officials.

“It’s very difficult to deploy constabulary to incorporate 1 cardinal people,” she said.

She urged fans “to debar excessive intoxicant consumption” during Sunday’s match, and asked them to look retired for each other. “Act responsibly,” she said.

Sheinbaum, a leftist populist, has declined to be World Cup games successful person, saying “tickets are very expensive.”

But she has celebrated each of nan team’s victories astatine her regular news conference, precocious inviting to nan shape Merlin, a duck that became an net sensation for waddling among fans on Reforma successful a greenish Mexico jersey.

Cecilia Sánchez Vidal successful nan Times’ Mexico bureau contributed to this report.