BAGHDAD (Ruptly) — At least 31 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in a stampede during the Ashura commemorations in the Iraqi city of Karbala on Tuesday.

The incident allegedly occurred when a worshipper tripped and fell during the “Tuwairij race”, which triggered the stampede.

The general secretary of Imam Husayn’s sanctuary, Afdal Alshami, refuted reports that the stampede was caused by the collapse of a footbridge, stating that “there was an incident of a rush, resulting from overcrowding and rapid crowd movement.”

He explained:

During the incident, one of the participants fell, resulting in a chain of consecutive falls. For this reason, we blocked the entrance through this gate until the evacuation of the wounded was over. Some have received medical treatment, but unfortunately some have lost their lives.

Ashura, which takes place on the tenth day of the Muharram in the Hijri Islamic calendar, is a day of mourning commemorating the murder of Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, as well as his family and companions during the battle of Karbala, on 10 Muharram 61 AH (October 10, 680 AD).