Haiti’s President Michel Martelly and Prime Minister Evans Paul led thousands of mourners in the country’s main public park on Saturday to honour the 16 victims of the carnival float accident.

Reports say some mourners collapsed during the ceremony held at the Champ de Mars Park in Port-au-Prince.

Official reports say the accident on carnival Tuesday was caused when one of the carnival floats touched a power line, causing the crown to panic, and leading  to a stampede. In addition to the 16 deaths more than 70 others were injured.

CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, in a message of condolence to President Martelly, expressed the Caribbean Community’s sadness at the loss of lives and its wish for a speedy recovery for the injured.