MONTEGO BAY, St James — Reggae Sumfest 2025 drew what is arguably the largest turnout in the festival’s storied history as fans from across the globe descended on Catherine Hall for a truly iconic moment — the long-awaited crowning of Vybz Kartel as the official King of Dancehall.

The energy in the venue was electric, the performances stellar, and the celebration unforgettable as the artiste returned to his homeland to receive his crown in front of a roaring sea of supporters.

However, amidst the overwhelming excitement, the event experienced an incident during the early hours of Saturday morning that resulted in a stampede, which led to injuries among several patrons.

Sumfest emergency response protocols were activated to neutralise the situation and return order and calm.

“The safety and well-being of our patrons remain our highest priority,” said Sumfest organisers in a statement following the show, “We are undertaking a full review of the incident alongside security consultants and law enforcement, and we will be implementing additional crowd control and safety measures effective immediately.”

The festival organisers extended their heartfelt concern for all those who were injured during this unfortunate incident.

“Reggae Sumfest, in partnership with the Montego Bay law enforcement and fire brigade, remains committed to delivering a safe, world-class experience to the people of Jamaica and our international guests,” the statement continued.