At least 151 people were killed and 150 others injured after being crushed by a large crowd moving forward on a narrow street during Halloween celebrations in the South Korean capital Seoul, officials said.
Chief of Seoul’s Yongsan fire department, Choi Seong-beom, said the death toll could rise as rescuers continue to transport the injured to hospitals after Saturday night’s stampede in the leisure district of Itaewon on Saturday night.
How it happened?
Authorities say the incident took place after a large crowd started pushing forward in narrow alley near the Hamilton Hotel, a major party spot in Seoul.
Officials say it was believed that people were crushed to death after a large crowd began pushing forward in a narrow alley near Hamilton Hotel, a major party spot in Seoul.
According to local media, around 100,000 people flocked to the streets of Itaewon for the Halloween celebrations, which were the largest since the start of the pandemic following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in recent months.
Over 400 rescuers and 140 vehicles from across the country, including all available personnel in Seoul, were deployed on the streets to treat the injured.
Television footage and images from the scene showed ambulances lining the streets amid a heavy police presence and rescuers carrying injured people on stretchers.
What South Korean President said?
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a statement asking authorities to ensure timely treatment of the injured and to check the safety of the festival sites. He also ordered the Health Ministry to quickly deploy emergency medical teams and arrange beds at a nearby hospital to treat the wounded.
