78 Killed in Stampede for $9

HRD is providing emergency relief to the families of those who have been injured and killed in an event to distribute charity in Yemen's capital late Wednesday night.

At least 78 people have been killed in a crush at a school in the Yemeni capital Sanaa during the distribution of charity for Ramadan, officials say.

People had gathered to receive $9 each from a charity funded by local businessmen, witnesses said. Interior Ministry spokesperson Brig. Abdel-Khaleq al-Aghri, blamed the crush on the "random distribution" of funds without coordination with local authorities.

Hundreds of people crowded to receive the alms, which amounted to 5,000 Yemeni riyals, or about $9 per person, two witnesses involved in the rescue effort told Reuters.

"When the door opened, there was a big rush by people wanting to reach the school yard first and some people began falling on the steps leading to the entrance," one medic said.

Armed Houthis fired into the air in an attempt at crowd control, apparently striking an electrical wire and causing it to explode, according to two witnesses, Abdel-Rahman Ahmed and Yahia Mohsen. That sparked a panic, and people, including many women and children, began stampeding, they said.