Dozens of principally younger individuals have been left lifeless in a crowd crush at Halloween festivities in South Korea’s capital metropolis of Seoul – with greater than 1,700 emergency staff deployed to the scene.
Officials say the stampede came about after a big crowd pushed ahead on a slim avenue throughout festivities.
Here, Sky News appears at how and what probably induced the tragedy – which is being touted as one in every of South Korea’s biggest-ever disasters.
South Korea stampede reside updates
What occurred?
At least 146 individuals have been killed and 150 others have been injured after the stampede in Seoul on Saturday night time, based on native fireplace authorities.
The victims have been crushed by a big crowd pushing ahead on a slim alley within the South Korean capital’s Itaewon neighbourhood, a serious leisure and nightlife district within the capital.
Choi Seong-beom, chief of Seoul’s Yongsan fireplace division, stated the variety of deaths might rise and that an unspecified variety of the injured have been in essential situation – with not less than 50 individuals being handled for cardiac arrest.
“A number of people fell during a Halloween festival, and we have a large number of casualties,” Mr Choi stated.
He stated the our bodies have been being taken to hospitals or a fitness center, the place bereaved relations might establish them.
He added that many of the lifeless and injured are ladies of their 20s and plenty of of them have been killed close to a nightclub.
Some witnesses stated the gang had develop into more and more unruly and agitated because the night went on. The incident occurred at about 10.20pm (1.20pm GMT).
Many described chaotic scenes moments earlier than the crush, with cops available on the occasion in anticipation of getting hassle sustaining management of the crowds.
What induced the stampede?
It shouldn’t be clear what prompted the gang surge, though some native media reviews stated numerous individuals had rushed to the realm after listening to an unidentified superstar had been there.
Witnesses stated individuals had flooded into the slim downhill alley close to the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon.
One witness, in his 20s, informed Yonhap information company: “As people in the front fell over, those in the back were crushed.”
Footage posted on-line confirmed a whole lot of individuals packed within the slim, sloped alley crushed and motionless as emergency officers and police tried to drag them free.
Mr Choi, the Yongsan district fireplace chief, stated all of the deaths have been possible from the crush within the single slim alley.
Other footage confirmed chaotic scenes of fireside officers and residents treating dozens of people that seemed to be unconscious.
Police may also be investigating whether or not bars and golf equipment within the space have been complying with security laws, media reported.
What witnesses are saying
Moon Ju-young, 21, stated there have been clear indicators of hassle within the alleys earlier than the incident.
“It was at least more than 10 times crowded than usual,” he informed Reuters information company.
A survivor named Kim informed Seoul-based Hankyoreh newspaper that individuals fell and toppled on each other “like dominos” after they have been pushed by others within the slim avenue.
Kim stated some individuals shouted: “Help me!”
Others have been wanting breath.
Kim described being trampled by different individuals for about 1.5 hours earlier than being rescued.
Another survivor, named Lee Chang-kyu, informed the newspaper he noticed 5 – 6 males begin pushing others earlier than one or two started falling at first of the stampede.
In an interview with information channel YTN, Hwang Min-hyeok, a customer to Itaewon, stated it was stunning to see rows of our bodies laid down within the alley close to the Hamilton Hotel.
He stated emergency staff have been initially overwhelmed, leaving pedestrians struggling to manage CPR to the injured mendacity on the streets.
People cried beside our bodies, he added.
Emergency response
All out there emergency providers personnel in Seoul have been deployed to the streets to deal with the injured following the stampede.
The National Fire Agency says that greater than 1,700 personnel from throughout South Korea have been despatched, together with 520 firefighters, 1,100 cops, and 70 authorities staff.
Post-pandemic crowds
Itaewon is common with younger individuals who flock to its bars and eating places – so after three years of COVID restrictions, many have been eager to expertise their first Halloween festivities collectively.
Curfews on bars and eating places and a restrict of 10 individuals for personal gatherings have been lifted in April, and an out of doors masks mandate was dropped in May.
Some estimates stated there have been about 100,000 individuals at Saturday night time’s occasion.
“You would see big crowds at Christmas and fireworks… but this was several ten-folds bigger than any of that,” Park Jung-hoon, 21, informed Reuters from the scene.
Source: information.sky.com”