Seoul, The Indonesia Post – At least 146 people were crushed to death as crowds celebrating Halloween crammed into a central alley of nightlife in Seoul, South Korea’s capital, late Saturday, authorities said.
In the tragedy that occurred in Itaewon district, 150 people were also injured as a result of being crushed, said Choi Sung-beom, head of the Yongsan fire department, at the scene.
Among the injured, many are in a critical condition and are being given emergency treatment, officials said.
Many people at the party reportedly wore Halloween masks and costumes.
The incident occurred at around 22.20 local time (20.20 WIB).
“Many people fell during the Halloween festival, and there were many victims,” said Choi.
Many of the victims lost their lives near a nightclub, he said.
He added that many women died in the incident.
Eyewitnesses described the location as chaotic before the tragedy occurred.
The police, who were on guard in anticipation of unexpected events, said it was difficult to control the crowd.
Images on social media showed hundreds of people crammed into the narrow and sloping alley, pinned and unable to move.
Meanwhile, emergency response officers and the police are trying to free them from the crush.
Other images show chaos as firefighters and residents deal with dozens of apparently unconscious people.
A number of foreigners were among the victims who were taken to nearby hospitals.
A Reuters witness said the morgue was set up in a building opposite the scene.
Some 48 bodies were later seen being carried on wheeled stretchers and transferred to a government building for identification, the eyewitness said.
Several eyewitnesses described that the crowd at the location became more and more disobedient and impatient at night.
The Halloween party is the first time it has been held in three years, after South Korea lifted COVID-19 restrictions and a ban on gatherings.
Itaewon is a popular district among young South Koreans and foreigners.
On Saturday, dozens of bars and restaurants in the area were full of people looking to celebrate Halloween.
Previously, businesses in the region had been badly affected by the pandemic.
“Usually large crowds are seen during Christmas and fireworks… but this one was several tens of times as many,” resident Park Jung-hoon, 21, told Reuters at the scene.
South Korea in April lifted curfews on bars and restaurants as well as limits on attendance of more than 10 people for private gatherings.
The obligation to wear masks outdoors was also lifted in May.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol chaired an emergency meeting with his senior aides.
“The area is still chaotic, so we are still trying to determine the number of people injured,” said Moon Hyun-joo, an official with the National Fire Service.
Authorities said they were investigating the cause of the tragedy. (mhn/bbs)
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