Stampede at Damascus’ Umayyad Mosque leaves 3 women dead, 5 children injured

By Mohammad Sio

ISTANBUL (AA) – At least three women were killed, and five children suffered severe fractures, bruises, and fainting during a stampede at the Umayyad Mosque in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Friday afternoon.

“A tragedy occurred, with three women dead and five children suffering severe fractures, bruises, and fainting in an initial toll following a stampede inside the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus,” the Syrian Civil Defense, known as the White Helmets, said in a statement.

The stampede, according to the statement, was caused by overcrowding at a civilian-organized event inside the mosque.

The Civil Defense responded to the incident in collaboration with other teams, providing medical care to a young girl and recovering a woman's body from inside the mosque.

According to an Anadolu reporter, a large number of Muslims attended the weekly Friday prayers in congregation at the Umayyad Mosque, which is the largest mosque in Damascus.

Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime on December 8, 2024, the iconic mosque has seen a significant increase in visitors, especially on Fridays.

Assad, Syria's leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party's decades-long regime.

The takeover came after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters captured key cities in a lightning offensive that lasted less than two weeks.

A new administration led by Ahmed al-Sharaa has taken control of the country.