South Korea: Halloween Crush Kills More than 150 People
At least 153 people have died in a crush as huge Halloween crowds surged into a narrow street in South Korea's capital, Seoul.
Like the rest of the world, even South Korea has imposed strict restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In recent months they started to lift many of their restrictions. On Saturday 29 October 2022, there was a big Halloween Celebration in Itaewon District of Seoul which is the Capital of South Korea. Itaewon is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Seoul for a night out. Locals and foreigners flock there every weekend, but Halloween is one of the busiest nights of the year. An estimated 100,000 people came to celebrate there on Saturday to mark the first Halloween since the start of the pandemic where gathering sizes were not limited and people did not need to wear masks outside.
A huge stampede happened after a large number of people rushed to a bar after hearing that an unidentified celebrity was visiting. However this is not confirmed. These are just rumors and the real reason for the stampede is still being investigated. People crowded in from 3 directions were unable to move. At least 153 people have died. Most of the dead and injured are in their 20s. The victims also reportedly included foreign nationals from Iran, Uzbekistan, China, and Norway. 270 people were reported missing as a result of the incident.One video shows people struggling to breathe. In another, emergency responders try to pull out people from what appears to be a pile of bodies.
Cries of distress can be heard. Bodies were lined up along the street covered in blue blankets. Others were carried, lifeless, into ambulances. Members of the public desperately administered CPR to those who were lying unconscious, along with hundreds of emergency workers who were sent in from around the country to help. Relatives and friends of missing people have been turning up at the scene looking for clues to reveal whether their loved ones were there. With so many victims this is expected to take time. South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Monday promised a thorough investigation. Schools, kindergartens and companies around the country scrapped planned Halloween events. K-pop Concerts and government briefings were also canceled. Countries like India, USA and England have extended their support to South Korea and offered help.
