Vancouver was shaken by a devastating tragedy on Saturday evening when a driver rammed into a crowd gathered for a Filipino street festival, leaving multiple people dead and several others injured.
The incident occurred shortly after 8 p.m. near East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street, where the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party was in full swing.
Authorities have confirmed that the driver responsible has been taken into custody. While details remain scarce, Vancouver police announced they would provide a full update around midnight (0700 GMT).
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his deep sorrow on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “I am devastated to hear about the horrific events at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver earlier this evening.” Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and British Columbia Premier David Eby also shared their condolences online.
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Witnesses at the scene described chaotic moments leading up to the tragedy. One bystander told CTV News that a black vehicle was seen driving erratically before it barreled into the crowd. The vehicle reportedly sped through the heart of the festival, leaving devastation in its wake.
Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party, was among the attendees but had fortunately left the event just minutes before the crash. Speaking to CTV News afterward, an emotional Singh said, “This is so horrific, I don’t even know what to say. I was just there, and I just imagine the faces of the kids I saw smiling and dancing.”
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The festival had drawn thousands of people, according to The Vancouver Sun, turning what was meant to be a joyful cultural celebration into a scene of heartbreak.
Yoseb Vardeh, co-owner of food truck Bao Buns, witnessed the aftermath. “I didn’t get to see the driver, all I heard was an engine rev,” he told Postmedia. “I got outside my food truck, I looked down the road and there’s just bodies everywhere,” Vardeh said, his voice breaking. “He went through the whole block, he went straight down the middle.”
The attack comes just days before Canada’s federal election on Monday, adding to the nation’s collective anxiety. As Vancouver grieves, authorities continue their investigation into the tragic event. More updates are expected as the city rallies to support the victims and their families during this difficult time.
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