The incident took place in the Old City in the centre of Sanaa when hundreds of poor people gathered at an event organised by merchants, according to the Houthi-run Interior Ministry.
The ministry’s spokesman, Brig Abdel-Khaleq al-Aghri said the mismanagement by the organizers of the event caused the stampede. He blamed the disaster on the “random distribution” of funds without coordination with local authorities. It added: “The dead and injured were taken to hospitals and two of the merchants responsible for the matter were arrested.” Spokesperson Brigadier Al-Ajri also said an investigation is underway, and that, “we extend our sincere condolences and condolences to all the families of the victims, asking Allah Almighty to keep their hearts patient.” The statement also called what happened “tragic” and “painful”.
Eyewitnesses told the Associated Press that Houthis shot up into the air to try to control the crowds, with a round said to have hit an electrical wire which caused it to explode and triggering panic on the ground. Dozens of casualties were taken to nearby hospitals. Motaher al-Marouni, a senior health official in Sanaa, gave the death tally and said at least 13 were seriously injured, according to the Houthi’s Al-Masirah satellite TV channel.
The rebels quickly sealed off the school where the event was organised and barred people, including journalists, from approaching.
Eyewitnesses, Abdel-Rahman Ahmed and Yahia Mohsen, said armed Houthis shot in the air in an attempt to control the crowd, apparently striking an electrical wire and causing it to explode. That sparked panic and people began stampeding, they said.
The Houthi-run Interior Ministry said it had detained two organisers and an investigation was underway.
Yemen’s capital is controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthis since they descended from their northern stronghold in 2014 and removed the internationally recognised government.
