Mexican health authorities said on Wednesday that three people died from asphyxiation during huge celebrations in downtown Mexico City after the national team’s win over Ecuador secured a place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16.
According to Mexico City’s Health Secretariat, two women and one man were found unconscious near the iconic Angel of Independence monument, where thousands of fans gathered on Tuesday night to celebrate. The victims, aged 48, 44 and 19, were later confirmed dead. Authorities did not release their identities or provide further details about how the deaths occurred.
Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said emergency teams responded immediately after receiving reports of the three unconscious people, but they had already died.
Brugada also urged people to celebrate “responsibly, carefully and with empathy.”
Fireworks filled the sky around the Independence Monument, known locally as “El Angel,” as thousands of supporters celebrated along the five-kilometre Paseo de la Reforma, which connects the city’s main square, the Zocalo, with Chapultepec Park.
In a video shared on Tuesday, Brugada said around one million people had gathered in the streets. She asked fans to stop travelling to the city centre to reduce overcrowding and instead encouraged them to attend a concert by a popular cumbia band in the eastern part of the city.
Celebrations spread across the capital. Street bands appeared on corners, while carts carrying fireworks known as “toritos” moved slowly through packed streets where people could barely move.
Many young fans passed bottles of alcohol among themselves as hundreds more tried to make their way toward the city centre. Some managed to get through, while many others were forced to turn back because of the massive crowds.
