Haiti Cancels Carnival After Deadly Parade Accident
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The Prime Minister of Haiti has canceled the country's Carnival celebration after a deadly accident involving a parade float.
The accident happened around 3 a.m. Tuesday morning as thousands packed the streets of downtown Port-au-Prince for the annual event.
With the crowd cheering, someone on the packed float sponsored by the Haitian hip-hop group Barikad Crew used a pole or stick to move the power line so the float could pass under it.
Cellphone video caught a bright flash and then people collapsed on the float, some fell into the crowd. Some of the people were killed instantly, others were taken to the hospital after sparks from the deadly flash showered down on them.
Reports indicate at least 20 people were killed and 46 others were injured, according to CBS News. Most of those killed were trampled to death as the crowd made a mad dash away from the float and explosion.
Just before 1 p.m., the Miami Herald's Caribbean correspondent Jacqueline Charles posted on Twitter:
#Haiti just canceled carnival throughout the entire country, says its Prime Minister Evans Paul. At 5 p.m. all to wear white in solidary.
— Jacqueline Charles (@Jacquiecharles) February 17, 2015
"My prayers and thoughts are with everyone affected by this morning's accident in Haiti. I extend my deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those who lost their lives today, whether living on the island or abroad, and I pray for the recovery of the injured." wrote Jean Monestime, Chairman of the Board of Miami-Dade County Commission in a statement.
CLICK HERE to watch Ted Scouten's report
Tomorrow Notre Dame d'Haiti Catholic Church in Miami will include a special prayer for the victims at it's 7:30pm Ash Wednesday Mass.
CBS News contributed to this report.