MEXICO CITY — Three people have died from suffocation as thousands of fans crowded Mexico City’s streets during World Cup celebrations, health authorities said on Wednesday.A 19-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man died after huge crowds descended on the city to celebrate Mexico’s2-0 victory over Ecuador in the round of 32. A 48-year-old woman is also reported to have died.The capital’s most emblematic boulevard and the streets around it had been closed to traffic and set up for the soccer celebrations.More than one million people took to the streets, mainly around the Angel of Independence monument in downtown, to mark the country’s first World Cup knockout win since 1986, the city government said.City Mayor Clara Brugada expressed her “most sincere condolences” to the victims’ families and pledged support in the coming days.Emergency teams tended to three unconscious people at different locations around Paseo de la Reforma before transporting them to hospital, authorities said.”After performing first aid and CPR techniques on the patients, they were transferred to a hospital for specialised medical care,” the city’s health authority said.All three were confirmed to have died from suffocation and identified by their families, it added.In a social media post after the deaths were announced, Mayor Brugada urged fans to “always celebrate with responsibility, care, and empathy”.Mexico’s victory sparked wild celebrations in the Estadio Azteca and across large parts of the city, where fireworks could be seen being lit long after the final whistle.Prior to the football match, Brugada had told fans hoping to watch the game near the Angel of Independence monument to look elsewhere due to the huge crowds already gathered there.More than 20 million people live in Mexico City’s metropolitan area, making it one of the most densely populated places on the planet.Tuesday’s win sends Mexico into the World Cup’s round of 16, where they could face England if Thomas Tuchel’s side beat DR Congo on Wednesday.MEXICO CITY — Three people have died from suffocation as thousands of fans crowded Mexico City’s streets during World Cup celebrations, health authorities said on Wednesday.A 19-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man died after huge crowds descended on the city to celebrate Mexico’s2-0 victory over Ecuador in the round of 32. A 48-year-old woman is also reported to have died.The capital’s most emblematic boulevard and the streets around it had been closed to traffic and set up for the soccer celebrations.More than one million people took to the streets, mainly around the Angel of Independence monument in downtown, to mark the country’s first World Cup knockout win since 1986, the city government said.City Mayor Clara Brugada expressed her “most sincere condolences” to the victims’ families and pledged support in the coming days.Emergency teams tended to three unconscious people at different locations around Paseo de la Reforma before transporting them to hospital, authorities said.”After performing first aid and CPR techniques on the patients, they were transferred to a hospital for specialised medical care,” the city’s health authority said.All three were confirmed to have died from suffocation and identified by their families, it added.In a social media post after the deaths were announced, Mayor Brugada urged fans to “always celebrate with responsibility, care, and empathy”.Mexico’s victory sparked wild celebrations in the Estadio Azteca and across large parts of the city, where fireworks could be seen being lit long after the final whistle.Prior to the football match, Brugada had told fans hoping to watch the game near the Angel of Independence monument to look elsewhere due to the huge crowds already gathered there.More than 20 million people live in Mexico City’s metropolitan area, making it one of the most densely populated places on the planet.Tuesday’s win sends Mexico into the World Cup’s round of 16, where they could face England if Thomas Tuchel’s side beat DR Congo on Wednesday.
Three die from suffocation in Mexico City World Cup celebrations
