BOGOTA: A part of a wooden stage collapsed on Sunday during a ‘bullfight’ in central Colombia, leaving spectators on the ground. At least four people died in the accident, while several others were injured. Giving information, officials said that the accident happened during a traditional event ‘Corraleja’ (bullfight) at a stadium in the city of El Espinal in Tolima state. Several videos of the event have surfaced, in which the three-story part of the stage is seen collapsing in the audience gallery.
Tolima governor Jose Ricardo Orozco told the local ‘Blue Radio’, “Two women, a man, and a newborn have died so far.” Mayor Juan Carlos Tamayo said about 800 people were seated in the part of the stage that collapsed. Tolima’s Health Minister Martha Palacios told a news conference late Sunday that about 322 people went to local government and private hospitals for treatment after the accident.
Palacios said that the age of the newborn who lost his life in the accident was 18 months. Besides four people who lost their lives in the accident, four others are in the intensive care unit and two others are undergoing surgery. Tolima Governor Ricardo Orozco had requested the cancellation of the ‘Corraleja’ event in Tolima, but the event was held despite this.
Newly-elected President Gustavo Petro insisted this was not the first time such an incident had happened and urged local authorities to put a stop to such events. He said, “I appeal to the mayor not to allow such programs to be organized in which the lives of people or animals are in danger.
Outgoing President Ivan Duque announced an investigation into the accident on Twitter. He said, “We mourn the terrible accident in El Espinal, Tolima, during the festivals in San Pedro and San Juan, in which the stage collapsed during Corraleja. We will get it checked.
