Image believed to be of stampede in Sanaa, Yemen (Photo: Reuters).
According to the Houthi-run interior ministry, chaos broke out in the centre of the capital Sanaa when hundreds of poor people gathered at an event organised by traders.
"At least 85 people were killed and more than 322 were injured," a Houthi security official told AFP on April 20.
A spokesman for the interior ministry blamed the disaster on the "random distribution" of charity money without coordination with local authorities.
Crowded scene believed to be a stampede in Yemen (Photo: New York Post).
Witnesses said armed Houthi forces fired into the air in an attempt to control the crowd, but apparently hit an electric wire and caused it to explode. The action caused panic and people began to run away.
Security forces were deployed heavily around the area of the tragedy as people rushed to the scene in the hope of finding their loved ones, but they were banned from entering the scene.
The latest tragedy to hit the Arabian Peninsula's poorest country comes days before the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
The Houthi-run interior ministry said it had arrested two people who organised the money distribution and an investigation was underway.
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