Mexican officials vow new safety protocols after World Cup celebrations turn deadly - BERITAJA

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

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

But the 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 nationwide jubilation complete the 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 the first clip successful 4 decades to the competition’s information of 16.

Mexico’s improbable tally aft years of failing to make it retired of the 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 means, “What if?” What if Mexico’s squad is able, somehow, to propulsion disconnected the extraordinary?

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

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

In Cabo San Lucas past month, a crowd rejoicing aft Mexico’s triumph complete the Czech Republic rocked a car successful the 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 the toughest yet for El Tri, authorities nationwide are vowing to fortify information protocols.

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

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

President Claudia Sheinbaum said authorities were investigating what went incorrect during the deadly stampede astatine the 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 the team’s victories astatine her regular news conference, precocious inviting to the shape Merlin, a duck that became an net sensation for waddling among fans on Reforma successful a greenish Mexico jersey.

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