Nine killed in Guatemalan concert tragedy

In a tragic incident, at least nine people including two 12-year-old children died in a stampede at a large rock concert in the western Guatemalan city of Quetzaltenango on Thursday.

The injured people were transferred to a local hospital and were believed to have suffered fractures, with witnesses saying that the venue for the event only had two exit doors.

First aid workers were helping injured people and ambulances were at the scene, images from Guatemala‍‍`s Red Cross showed on Twitter. Local media described the concert as an annual event marking independence day in the Central American country.

It was the first time in three years that Guatemala celebrated its independence from Spain after the previous two years‍‍` celebrations were called off due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Guatemala gained independence from former colonial power Spain on September 15, 1821.