In brief
During a local football derby in Lima, a rally turned tragic as one fan was confirmed dead and approximately 47 others injured. Health Minister Juan Carlos Velasco Guerrero stated that three of the injured are in critical condition. Investigations are underway regarding the circumstances leading to the incident, which was initially reported as a structural collapse but has since been disputed. Despite the tragedy, the scheduled match between Alianza Lima and Universitario de Deportes is still set to proceed, with officials emphasizing the commitment to attendee safety.
An incident ahead of a local football derby in the Peruvian capital Lima has left one fan dead and dozens injured. Officials are investigating the cause. Initial reports suggested parts of the stadium's wall and structure had collapsed, which has since been disputed. Confirming the death, Peruvian Health Minister Juan Carlos Velasco Guerrero told media at a Lima hospital that 47 people were hurt - three of whom are in a critical condition.Hundreds had gathered around Alejandro Villanueva Stadium wearing football shirts and waving flags of the home team, Alianza Lima, ahead of a match against local rivals Universitario de Deportes. Fire Chief Marcos Pajuelo told reporters that the structure of the southern stands appeared to be in good condition, stating that 'there are no collapsed walls or sections fallen into the pit.'Despite these reports, the Peruvian Professional Football League announced that the match would still go ahead as planned. Earlier, the interior ministry revealed on social media that 40 firefighters responded to an emergency at the stadium involving people trapped in a structure. However, Alianza Lima published a statement indicating that according to preliminary information, the incident is not related to the collapse of walls or structural facilities of the sports complex. The league reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of attendees at sporting events.
