It rose to at least 151 dead – 97 women and 54 men – the tragic toll of the crush that took place in the Itaewon district in central Seoul, for a Halloween event. The authorities have warned that the number of victims could increase further: there are dozens of people – especially young people – who are still missing the appeal. This was reported by Sucorean media explaining how many corpses were transferred to a gymnasium for identification by relatives. Authorities have confirmed that at least 19 foreigners are among the dead, including people from Iran, Uzbekistan, China and Norway.
On the occasion of the event there were over 100 thousand people on the street, in what was the first Halloween party, one of the largest public celebrations in the city, without post-pandemic restrictions. “Every year Itaewon is extremely crowded, but this’ year was just crazy, “wrote one woman on her Instagram account. On social media some people, before the start of the evening, had declared that the neighborhood was so crowded that they did not feel safe.
Among the victims, mostly young people up to 20 years old, there are also 19 foreigners.
Witnesses said the narrow streets around the crash site were so crowded that it was difficult for the emergency services to make their way to help the victims. According to Yonhap, a total of 848 emergency workers participated in the accident, including 346 firefighters.
President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered a thorough investigation into the incident. “As president, responsible for the lives and safety of citizens, my heart is in pain and I struggle to bear the pain,” he said in a televised speech. The president also declared national mourning with flags at half mast.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se Hoon, currently on a visit to Europe, has canceled all scheduled appointments and announced his immediate return.
World leaders expressed their condolences, including the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz who commented on the incident on Twitter. “The tragic events in Seoul are a shock to us all,” he wrote, adding: “Our thoughts are with the numerous victims and their families. This is a sad day for South Korea. Germany is at their side. “.
Even the president of the United States Joe Biden he expressed his “deepest condolences” to those who lost their loved ones in the accident. “We are grieved with the people of the Republic of Korea and send our best wishes for a speedy recovery to all who were injured,” Biden said in a statement. “The alliance between our two countries has never been so vibrant and vital – and the ties between our peoples are stronger than ever. The United States stands alongside the Republic of Korea at this tragic time.”
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