At least 78 were killed and dozens suffered injuries after a stampede in Yemen’s capital Sanaa. Hundreds were at an event to distribute financial aid on Wednesday when an electrical explosion was spooked by gunfire, the Associated Press reported quoting eyewitnesses and Houthi rebel officials.

About 73 people were injured in the incident, the report added.

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AP quoted two witnesses, Abdel-Rahman Ahmed and Yahia Mohsen, who were at the scene in reporting that armed Houthis were trying to attempt at crowd control when a bullet was shot.

Several videos of the stampede, showing bodies on the ground, circulated on social media.

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“Absolutely devastating news out of #Yemen. 79 people killed in a stampede organized to distribute charity to poor people before the Eid holiday,” a Twitter user said.

“Regarding the accident that occurred in #صنعاء , which killed 78 people and dozens of injured. After seeing a picture before the disaster and crowding in addition to the electricity wires above it, and with different accounts of the news circulating, some of them talked about
🔸 shooting
🔸 Explosion of an electric transformer
🔸 shooting and transformer explosion,” another one noted.

Dozens of injured people were taken to hospitals, authorities said.

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As per reports, Houthi rebels sealed off the school where the event was organised. People and journalists were barred from approaching. The interior ministry said it detained two organisers and an investigation was under way.

Yemen’s capital Sanaa has been controlled by the Houthis since 2014. They removed the recognised government.