Three people died from suffocation after massive crowds gathered on the streets of Mexico City to celebrate the country’s FIFA World Cup victory, the capital’s health secretariat said early on Wednesday.The victims were caught up in celebrations near the Angel of Independence monument, where thousands of football fans had assembled after Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 in the Round of 32.Authorities said emergency teams responded to three people who were found unconscious at different locations along Paseo de la Reforma. The city’s main boulevard and surrounding roads had been closed to traffic to accommodate the celebrations.“After receiving advanced resuscitation efforts, the deaths of a 44-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman from suffocation have been confirmed,” the health authority initially said on social media.In a subsequent update, the secretariat said a third victim, a 48-year-old woman, suffered asphyxiation on a nearby street. She was taken to hospital but later died.Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada offered her condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and urged people on X to “always celebrate with responsibility, care, and empathy”.The celebrations erupted after Mexico secured its first World Cup knockout-stage victory in 40 years. The hosts defeated Ecuador 2-0 at the Azteca Stadium to book their place in the last 16.While jubilant supporters filled the streets with chants and celebrations, videos shared on social media also showed paramedics and emergency responders treating people who had collapsed on nearby roads.Home to more than 20 million people, the Mexico City metropolitan area regularly hosts large public gatherings and is accustomed to managing huge crowds during major events.
