A stampede in a university assembly in Bolivia leaves at least 4 dead and 70 injured (VIDEOS)

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.

The incident left polycontusions and people with fractures, while the deaths occurred “by suffocation,” Choque explained.

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.

“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.