Watch | Collapse of bullring leaves four dead, hundreds injured in Colombia
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Bullfights and cock fights are protected because of the cultural history behind them in Columbia even though animal abuse is a crime in the country
The partial collapse of the grandstand at a bullring in Columbia has left four dead and more than 300 injured. The popular event, during which members of the public face-off with small bulls, was being held on the feast day of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
A full three-story section of wooden stands filled with spectators can be seen toppling forward into the ring and throwing dozens of people to the ground in several videos posted on social media.
The videos showed a bull roaming in the arena while were people trying to escape from the stands but were unable to do so because of the rush and chaos.
Espero que todas las personas afectadas por el derrumbe de la plaza de El Espinal puedan salir airosas de sus heridas.
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) June 26, 2022
Esto ya había sucedido antes en Sincelejo.
Le solicito a las alcaldías no autorizar más espectáculos con la muerte de personas o animales. pic.twitter.com/dMAq6uqlKX
After the accident in the town of El Espinal, Tolima provincial governor Jose Ricardo Orozco told local Blu Radio that "There are four dead at this moment - two women, a man, and a minor."
Adding that he did not know exactly what the stand was constructed with but it appeared to be wooden boards, Vellez said ambulances were sent from the nearby cities of Ibague and Melgar to help the injured.
Expressing his solidarity with the families of those killed and hurt., Colombia's outgoing President Ivan Duque said on Twitter "We will request an investigation of the facts about what happened."
Sentimos la terrible tragedia registrada en El Espinal, Tolima, durante las fiestas de San Pedro y San Juan, por desplome de palcos en una corraleja. Pediremos una investigación de los hechos; pronta recuperación a los heridos y solidaridad con las familias de las víctimas.
— Iván Duque 🇨🇴 (@IvanDuque) June 26, 2022
Saying they were dangerous and promoted animal abuse, Orozco said the departmental government would move to ban the so-called "corralejas" in which residents try their luck in the ring.
Joining Orozco in calling for the amateur bullfights to be banned, President-Elect Gustavo Petro, who will take office on August 7, highlighted that he had put a stop to bullfights in Bogota when he was its mayor.
Bullfights and cock fights are protected because of the cultural history behind them in Columbia even though animal abuse is a crime in the country.
(With inputs from agencies)
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