Tragedy in Bolivia: at least 5 university students died after falling from fourth floor

At least five students died Tuesday after falling from a fourth floor after a broken railing at the Public University of El Alto (UPEA) in Bolivia.

According to the local newspaper The duty, three of the deaths were instantaneous, while two occurred after being evacuated to a medical center. In all cases, the cause of death is due to severe head trauma., produces strong impact.

The last two deaths occurred at the Boliviano Ho Holand Hospital, where university students arrived seriously injured. One lost his life around noon and the other was in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

According to different sources, there was a large group of young people who were in a student assembly which led to protests and scrambles the balustrade would give way.

El Alto city regional police commander Leonel Jiménez has confirmed the deaths.

The prosecutor’s office, police and university directors have already started investigations to determine the causes of the accident.

It’s a statement, The Public University of El Alto regretted “the fortuitous accident” and stressed that “the fact is being investigated by the Bolivian police”, in addition, the education center authorities “also ordered an internal investigation.”

Several media interviewed why over 60 students were allowed to assemble on one floor, with no distance or biosecurity measures due to the pandemic, and under what conditions was the holding of the said student assembly authorized.

According to witnesses, in the building of the business administration, there was asamblea student where financial matters were discussed with which there were disagreements which provoked the demands of the students and confrontations arose.

In several videos circulating on social networks, the Students huddled in protest in the halls leading to a classroom, where the assembly stood, moments before one of the balustrades gave way and the eight young people fell from the fourth floor.

Speaking to a local radio station, the UPEA administration, Henry Huanca pointed out that there was an “assembly despite the fact that there was a resolution that prohibited assemblies, but they let this group of students enter (…) there was an assembly with clashes and between two shoves, as seven companions fell ”.

With information from EFE

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