At least 78 people have been killed and 73 others injured in a stampede at a charity event during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Yemen's capital, Sanaa. The incident took place on Wednesday night in the Old City, where hundreds of people had gathered to receive financial aid organized by local merchants.

According to witnesses, the crowd was apparently spooked by the sound of gunfire and an electrical explosion caused by armed Houthis firing into the air in an attempt at crowd control. This sparked panic, leading to the stampede. Many women and children were among those caught up in the crush.

The Houthi-run Interior Ministry confirmed the incident, which is one of the deadliest in recent years. Two witnesses, Abdel-Rahman Ahmed and Yahia Mohsen, said that an electrical wire was struck by the gunfire, causing it to explode.

The incident highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen, which has been ravaged by years of conflict and a deepening economic crisis. The United Nations has described the situation in Yemen as the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with millions of people in need of urgent assistance.