Tragedy at Filipino Festival: 11 Dead After SUV Plows Through Vancouver Crowd 💔 What was supposed to be a joyful night celebrating Filipino heritage turned into a scene of horror in South Vancouver. Just after 8 p.m. during the Lapu Lapu Day street festival, a black Audi SUV broke through a barricade and barreled into a crowd, killing 11 people and injuring dozens more. Eyewitnesses describe the nightmare as bodies were flung into the air like pins at a bowling alley. The driver accelerated after slowly entering the street, turning a peaceful celebration into chaos in mere seconds.
Police have ruled out terrorism but confirmed that the suspect, a 30-year-old Vancouver man, has a long history of mental health issues and prior interactions with both police and healthcare professionals. Videos from the aftermath are gut-wrenching—screams, smashed food trucks, and a battered SUV tell a story that words can barely capture. One vendor, Kris Pangilinan, recounted how he’ll never forget the sound of bodies hitting the vehicle, a noise now etched into his mind forever.
Bystanders were the first to detain the suspect. A circulating video shows the man, wearing a black hoodie, pinned against a fence as an angry crowd surrounds him. “I’m sorry,” he says, dazed and bleeding, while others scream at him. Interim Police Chief Steve Rai called it “the darkest day in Vancouver’s history,” a statement that echoes across a nation still reeling.
Prime Minister Mark Carney immediately canceled his campaign events, addressing the grieving community with a heartfelt message. “Families lost mothers, fathers, sisters, and children,” he said, extending his condolences to Vancouver’s Filipino community and the country at large. The tragedy stirred memories of the 2018 Toronto van attack, reviving national concerns about public safety during large gatherings.
Heartbreaking stories are still unfolding. One grandmother shielded her grandchildren with her body. A daughter narrowly escaped after being struck in the arm. A man was identified in the hospital only by the wedding ring found in a pill bottle. The pain is real. It is raw. It is unbearable.
The festival, meant to honor the legacy of Filipino hero Lapu-Lapu, was in its second year. What was supposed to be a cultural celebration became a scene of mourning. British Columbia Premier David Eby vowed the community’s spirit would not be broken, calling the Filipino community “beautiful, resilient, and full of love.”
President Marcos of the Philippines also released a statement, assuring the public that the Philippine Consulate in Vancouver is working closely with Canadian officials to assist victims and their families. As flowers pile up at the scene, one thing is clear: Vancouver is hurting, and the entire Filipino community is grieving—together.
Comments
Post a Comment