Five dead and dozens injured after stadium collapses during Colombian bullfight
<p dir="ltr">Dozens have been injured and at least five people have died during a bullfight in Colombia after the improvised wooden stadium collapsed.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Footage shows the stands crumbling during a “correlaja”, an event where spectators jump into the ring to run alongside the bulls, in El Espina in Tolima as part of the annual San Juan and San Pedro festivities, per <em><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/colombia-stadium-collapse-multiple-fatalities-after-improvised-venue-crumples-during-bull-fight/3256acdc-3af3-4226-b9ea-0afdc1dc5e5a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a></em>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">According to reports, at least one bull has escaped the stadium into neighbouring streets.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“At this moment, we have four (dead) victims confirmed - two women, an adult man and a minor - plus about 30 people seriously injured,” Governor Ricardo Orozco told local radio outlet BlueRadio Colombia.</p>
<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-257bf633-7fff-b827-91a5-bf0574a854f1"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">“Of course, we have activated all the hospitals and ambulances we can work with.”</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOSEspinal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOSEspinal</a> necesitamos el apoyo de los organismos de socorro, ambulancia, médicos para atender la emergencia, hay una emergencia. <a href="https://twitter.com/DefensaCivilCo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DefensaCivilCo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NoticiasCaracol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NoticiasCaracol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CanalRCN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CanalRCN</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MONYRODRIGUEZOF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MONYRODRIGUEZOF</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/cruzrojacol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cruzrojacol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DCoronell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DCoronell</a> <a href="https://t.co/2BI5sEuziS">pic.twitter.com/2BI5sEuziS</a></p>
<p>— Ivan Ferney Rojas M. (@IvanRojasCR) <a href="https://twitter.com/IvanRojasCR/status/1541134357565476868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">However, there are fears the number of injured could be much higher, with Major Luis Fernando Vélez, director of the civil defence department, telling a local radio station that “there is talk of 500 wounded”.</p>
<p dir="ltr">A statement released by the Mayor’s Office of Espinal said they “deeply regret what happened in the building”.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“We want to call for calm to the entire community,” it read.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Once the emergency became known, the relief agencies acted immediately, achieving the evacuation of the injured for primary care at the San Rafael Hospital in the municipality.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">But, one local councillor told newspaper <em>El Tiempo</em> that local hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of patients.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">“We still need support from ambulances and neighbouring hospitals, many people are still unattended,” Iván Ferney Rojas told the publication.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Espero que todas las personas afectadas por el derrumbe de la plaza de El Espinal puedan salir airosas de sus heridas.</p>
<p>Esto ya había sucedido antes en Sincelejo.</p>
<p>Le solicito a las alcaldías no autorizar más espectáculos con la muerte de personas o animales. <a href="https://t.co/dMAq6uqlKX">pic.twitter.com/dMAq6uqlKX</a></p>
<p>— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) <a href="https://twitter.com/petrogustavo/status/1541138473532493826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">The incident has also brought bullfighting into the spotlight, with president-elect Gustavo Petro calling for the events to stop.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“This has already happened before in Sincelejo,” he tweeted.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I ask the mayors not to authorise more shows with the death of people or animals.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Mr Orozco also confirmed on <a href="https://twitter.com/Ricardo_Orozv/status/1541169975439892488" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a> that the incident is being attended to by the departmental risk management committee and extraordinary security council.</p>
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<p dir="ltr"><em>Image: 9News</em></p>
