Horrific scene at Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Filipino cultural festival as SUV plows into festivalgoers

Police are investigating a tragic “mass casualty incident” after a driver deliberately drove into a crowd at a street festival in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday, killing several people.

The incident occurred during the Lapu Lapu festival, a Filipino cultural celebration honoring the national hero Datu Lapu Lapu, according to dw.com

The driver, a 30-year-old man, was arrested at the scene, but authorities have not yet confirmed the exact number of fatalities or injuries.

Vancouver’s interim police chief, Steve Rai, addressed the media, stating that the police were still working to notify the victims’ families before releasing further details on the casualties.

He declined to provide specific figures, although some reports suggest there were at least 20 casualties.

Witnesses described horrifying scenes, with one reporting hearing screams as a black SUV plowed into the crowd, striking more than a dozen people. Video footage shared on social media showed victims and debris scattered across the road, with several people lying motionless on the ground. The front of the black SUV appeared severely damaged in photos from the scene.

The tragic event occurred around 8 p.m. local time (0300 UTC/GMT) near East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street in South Vancouver.

The Lapu Lapu festival, where people typically wear traditional attire to honor the 16th-century hero who led the resistance against colonial invaders, had been in full swing when the vehicle struck the crowd.

In response to the incident, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his condolences to the victims’ families.

As investigations continue, police have confirmed that the driver is in custody, but they are still piecing together the details of the horrific incident.