Damascus, Jan 10 (NationPress) A tragic incident occurred on Friday when three women perished and five children endured critical injuries, including severe fractures and bruises, during a stampede at the Umayyad Mosque in the Syrian capital, Damascus. This chaos unfolded as attendees rushed for free meals provided during a charitable event, according to reports from the Syrian Civil Defence.
The stampede took place amid a banquet organized by notable chef Abu Omari al-Dimashqi, who had welcomed the public to partake in a complimentary meal within the historic mosque's courtyard located in the Old City of Damascus.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that a significant number of people converged on the mosque's courtyard and adjacent areas, which resulted in disorderly scenes due to inadequate crowd management measures.
In response, security forces swiftly arrived to the scene, implementing road closures to control the surge of participants, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Umayyad Mosque, recognized as one of Damascus' most significant landmarks, typically hosts religious and cultural events. However, large public gatherings are infrequent and generally necessitate prior coordination with local authorities.
The security and public service systems in the city are still in the process of adapting following the recent political changes that transpired after the sudden conclusion of the previous Syrian government in December of last year.
