Saturday night, according to emergency officials, a large crowd partying in the trendy Itaewon district poured into a tight lane, and the number of fatalities could climb.
The president of South Korea has announced a national time of mourning after 151 people were killed in a stampede during Halloween festivities.
In a statement released on Sunday, President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed condolences to the victims and wished the injured a swift recovery before visiting the scene of the mob crush.
He stated, “This is awful.” Last night, a catastrophe and disaster that should not have occurred in the heart of Seoul.
Saturday night’s crowd crush in Seoul’s crowded nightlife district reportedly resulted in 151 deaths and at least 82 injuries, according to South Korean media.
Choi Seong-beom, chief of the Yongsan fire department in Seoul, stated that the number of fatalities could increase and that an undefined number of the injured were in severe condition, with at least 50 individuals receiving treatment for cardiac arrest.
During Halloween festivities in the vicinity of the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon, a big throng pushed forward on a small street and crushed the victims.
The majority of the remains have been sent to hospitals, while the remainder is being transported to a nearby gym for identification, he added.
According to the Reuters news agency, according to a fire official, the majority of the deceased are in their teens and twenties, while 19 of the injured are in critical condition.
Multiple casualties were captured on social media footage lying on the ground while emergency personnel and bystanders administered CPR in an attempt to revive them.
Following the stampede, all available emergency services professionals in Seoul were dispatched to the streets to treat the injured; the National Fire Agency said that more than 1,700 rescuers attended the area.
Uncertainty surrounds the cause of the crowd surge, while local media accounts indicate that a huge number of individuals went to the area after learning that an unidentified celebrity had been there.
Following the news, Oh Se-hoon, the mayor of Seoul, chose to return home from his trip to Europe.
President Yoon presided over an emergency meeting after the incident.
He stated in a statement that officials should ensure prompt care for the injured and assess the safety of celebration places.
Local media said that over 100,000 people attended Itaewon’s Halloween celebrations, which were the largest in years due to the recent relaxation of COVID-19 regulations.
Several foreign leaders have expressed their condolences to South Korea, including US President Joe Biden, who stated, “Jill and I extend our sincerest sympathies to the families who lost loved ones in Seoul.” We share the Republic of Korea’s sorrow and extend our best wishes for a speedy recovery to all those who were harmed.
“The Alliance between our two nations has never been stronger or more crucial, and the bonds between our people are stronger than ever.” In this tragic period, the United States stands with the Republic of Korea.”
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak described the news as “horrendous” and added, “Our sympathies are with those now responding and with all South Koreans at this time of great suffering.”
While Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that he was “thinking of everyone affected by this tragedy and hoping those injured a speedy and complete recovery,” he also wished those injured a speedy and complete recovery.
