Tragedy strikes during Halloween celebrations in South Korea’s capital, Seoul. 151 people die, numerous victims are revived after heart attacks.
- bad luck on Halloween: At least 151 people die in a stampede in Seoul
- alley is becoming Cases: Victims are trampled between bars and restaurants
- investigations the police: The circumstances are not yet clear
- This news ticker about the deadly stampede at a Halloween celebration in Seoul is updated regularly.
Update from October 30, 8:45 a.m.: Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his sympathy for the bereaved and the victims on Twitter. “The tragic events in Seoul shock us deeply,” wrote the SPD politician: “Our thoughts are with the many victims and their families. This is a sad day for South Korea. Germany stands by their side.”
US President Joe Biden also spoke up. In a statement, he and his wife Jill said they mourned with the people of South Korea: “The alliance between our countries has never been more vibrant and alive – and the ties between our citizens stronger than ever.”
Update from October 30, 6:25 a.m.: At least 151 mostly young people were killed in a crowd in Seoul on Saturday night (local time). The fire department said so. Another 82 visitors were injured, more than a dozen of them seriously. 19 foreigners were also among the dead. The death toll could continue to rise. President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered a thorough investigation and national mourning on Sunday morning.
According to eyewitnesses, the mass disaster happened when there was extreme crowding in a narrow, gently descending alleyway in the busy Itaewon neighborhood on the eve of Halloween. For the visitors, the alley, which is not even 100 meters long, with bars and restaurants on both sides, became a trap: numerous visitors fell to the ground, while others moved up. The crowds had backed up behind.
Many of the victims were smothered, crushed or trampled on. “Because there were many people on the hill, people pushed the others from above,” public broadcaster KBS quoted a witness as saying. They all fell because of the load and were crushed. The exact circumstances of the disaster are still unclear, the police said it would also check whether there were violations of safety regulations. According to the reports, the first reports of the accident were received by the fire brigade and police at around 10:15 p.m. local time.
According to eyewitness reports, the alleys around the accident site were so crowded that the rescue workers had difficulty making their way through the crowds and reaching the victims.
Halloween tragedy in Seoul: “It’s really terrible”
“It’s really terrible,” President Yoon said in a speech on Sunday from his office near the nightlife district. The tragedy in central Seoul should not have happened. As the President responsible for the life and safety of the citizens, he feels deep sadness. The government will declare the phase until the incident is under control a national mourning period.
Update from October 29, 9:22 p.m.: At least 146 people have been killed in a mass panic in South Korea’s capital Seoul. In addition, almost 150 other people were injured. According to a fire department spokesman, many of the victims were trampled to death, it said on Sunday night (local time). The stampede broke out around 10:20 p.m. local time as thousands of people crowded the narrow streets of Itaewon district for the first Halloween celebrations since the 2020 coronavirus pandemic began.
In a first statement, the fire brigade initially said that dozens of people had suffered cardiac arrest. Later there was talk of at least 59 fatalities and around 150 injured, this number then increased to 120 dead and around 100 injured.
The latest information from the local fire brigade assumes that the number of deaths, which has now reached 146, can continue to rise.
Dead after stampede in South Korea – eyewitness: “People were stacked like in a grave”
Photos and videos from the scene of the accident show people lying on the ground and being looked after by rescue workers. The fire brigade announced that around 140 ambulances were on site. The scene of the accident in the popular Itaewon nightlife district was cordoned off by the police.
An eyewitness who wished to remain anonymous was quoted by South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency. “People were stacked on top of each other like in a tomb,” he described the terrible scenes. “Some gradually lost consciousness, while others looked dead by that point.”
Disaster in South Korea: stampede at Halloween celebration in Seoul – 120 fatalities confirmed
Update from October 29, 8:14 p.m.: At least 120 people have been killed in the crowds in the South Korean capital Seoul, according to the latest information from the fire department. Around a hundred others were injured, according to a statement on Sunday night (local time).
Update from October 29, 7:25 p.m.: At least 59 people have died in the tragedy on the sidelines of Halloween celebrations in Seoul. In addition, 150 other people were injured. This was reported by the South Korean news agency Yonhap on Sunday night (local time), citing official information.
Tragedy in South Korea: Stampede at Halloween celebrations in Seoul – fatalities feared
First report from October 29th: Seoul – A dramatic incident occurred during Halloween celebrations in South Korea’s capital Seoul. According to initial findings, dozens of people suffered cardiac arrest. The police confirmed a report by the South Korean news agency Yonhap from Sunday night (local time). Accordingly, emergency workers had to carry out resuscitation measures in at least 50 people. Other victims were taken to nearby hospitals.
The tragic events happened in Itaewon, a nightlife district in Seoul. Meanwhile, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has ordered more emergency personnel to be deployed to the affected region. In addition, hospital beds are being prepared for the injured. During the tragedy, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was visiting Europe. According to Yonhap, the mayor has now announced his immediate return.
No official details were given about the cause of the accident. The British Guardians reports that around 100 people have been reported injured, according to Choi Cheon-sik of the national fire department. Fatalities are also assumed. There was a real rush on Saturday night in the Itaewon entertainment district. Crowds of people had crowded through a narrow street near the Hamilton Hotel. Some people were crushed to death, Choi said.
Videos are circulating on Twitter that are supposed to show how crowded the narrow alley where the accident happened was:
Halloween celebrations escalate in Seoul – stampede over celebrity guest at bar?
According to a local police officer, there had been stampede on the streets of Itaewon. The details of the incident are still under investigation, he added.
According to several local media, the crowds broke out after crowds poured into a bar in Itaewon. An unidentified celebrity was said to be there at the time. (kh)
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