Haiti calls off last day of Carnival

Officials said the stampede broke out in the early hours of Tuesday morning after a man atop a Carnival float was shocked by a low-hanging high-voltage cable in the capital Port-au-Prince. Thousands of revelers had gathered in the Champ de Mars parade ground in the city center to enjoy the annual festivities.

Amateur video footage of the incident showed sparks flying from the power line as it jolted the popular hip hop singer known as Fantom when his float passed near the presidential stand. The cable appeared to have shocked several others as well. Most of the victims were trampled to the death in the ensuing panic.

"Sharing in the grief of the families affected by this drama, the government has decided to suspend all Carnival festivities across the country," the prime minister's office said in a statement.

Prime Minister Evans Paul said that 16 people were confirmed dead and 78 were injured. Officials had earlier put the death toll as high as 20.

Paul also declared three official days of mourning for the small Caribbean country, with flags to be flown at half-mast on all public buildings from Wednesday. A state funeral is expected to be held on Saturday.

President Michel Martelly expressed his "sincerest sympathies" to the victims in a Twitter message.

Meanwhile, authorities in Brazil say three men were killed during Carnival celebrations overnight after they were electrocuted atop a float that hit a power line on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro.

nm/msh (Reuters, AP, dpa)