A stampede recorded during the celebration of a university assembly at the Tomás Frías Autonomous University in Potosí (Bolivia) left at least four dead and 70 injured on Monday, reported the region’s prosecutor, Roxana Choque.
“We have confirmed four deceased people, they have told us that there are 70 injured and five in intensive care“said the senior official, cited by AFP.
🔴🇧🇴 Three young university students die after a human avalanche in the middle of a student assembly at the Tomás Frías Autonomous University of Potosí, Bolivia. Tear gas bomb detonation caused panic. There are dozens of students injured. pic.twitter.com/Y3ZFBP1faO
– Argolla TV 🇵🇪 (@ArgollaTV) May 9, 2022
The incident left polycontusions and people with fractures, while the deaths occurred “by suffocation,” Choque explained.
⚡️ #NOW | At least three people dead and 40 injured after the explosion of a tear gas grenade that caused a stampede at the University of Potosí, Bolivia.pic.twitter.com/uv7yyPWbKH
— World in Conflict 🌎 (@MundoEClicto) May 9, 2022
The avalanche came after one of the attendees threw tear gas. According to the police chief, Bernardo Isnado, a student activated “a gas grenade”which led to an avalanche.
For his part, the Minister of Government of Bolivia, Eduardo del Castillo, he pointed that only one of the victims, a 23-year-old civil engineering student, has been identified.
Press conference on what happened at the UATF in #potosi. pic.twitter.com/zzFSidArVS
– Carlos Eduardo Del Castillo Del Carpio (@EDelCastilloDC) May 9, 2022
“We already have the first suspicious person who would have thrown these chemical agents,” he assured.
“We express our regret for the loss of life and the dozens of injuries in the serious incident that caused a human avalanche during a student assembly at the Tomás Frías Autonomous University,” tweeted the country’s president, Luis Arce, who also expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
Meanwhile, the principal investigator of the Human Rights Watch organization, César Muñoz, Indian that “a complete investigation and prosecution of those responsible is urgent,” while the delegation of the Ombudsman’s Office in Potosí asked “to clarify this fact and establish sanctions” for those responsible for the event.