In a shocking event, a street festival celebrating Vancouver's Filipino community turned tragic on Saturday night when a driver ran into a crowd, resulting in significant fatalities and injuries, according to local law enforcement. Police apprehended a 30-year-old man, though specific details on the number of victims remain unclear as authorities labeled the casualties in the “multiples.” The driver, already known to police, did not have an identified motive at the time of reporting.
The incident occurred shortly after 8 p.m. during the Lapu Lapu Day festival, which honors the Filipino hero Datu Lapu-Lapu who opposed Spanish colonialism. Eyewitness accounts and local media footage depicted a scene of chaos with ambulances and police vehicles responding swiftly to the area.
Vancouver’s Mayor Ken Sim expressed his profound sorrow over the unfolding tragedy, while multiple patients from the event were treated at Vancouver General Hospital. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney conveyed his devastation regarding the situation through social media, extending his condolences to the victims and the broader Filipino Canadian community.
The Lapu Lapu Day festival, declared by British Columbia in 2023, was expected to draw nearly 100,000 attendees, reflecting the vibrant culture of Canada's substantial Filipino population, which is around one million people, with a significant concentration in British Columbia.
