151 dead after Halloween stampede in South Korea – an overview

The Halloween celebrations in the popular Itaewon entertainment district in the South Korean metropolis of Seoul have led to an unprecedented catastrophe. At least 151 people were killed in mass panic on Saturday night (local time), the fire service said. Another 82 visitors were injured, more than a dozen seriously. 19 foreigners were also among the dead. The death toll could still rise.

The Itaewon district is known for its nightlife and often busy streets. Because of Halloween, there were a lot of people on the road on Saturday evening. According to eyewitness accounts, the mass accident happened when there was an extreme crowd in a narrow, slightly descending alley.

For the visitors, the alley, which is less than 100 meters long, lined with bars and restaurants, became a trap: many visitors fell to the ground, others took off. The crowd had moved behind. Many of the victims were suffocated, crushed or trampled. “Because there were a lot of people on the hill, people pushed the others from above,” the public broadcaster KBS quoted a witness as saying. They all fell from the load and were crushed.

The annual Halloween festival is one of the largest public celebrations in the capital. This year the events took place after the corona measures were largely relaxed.

Tens of thousands of people reportedly flocked to the Itaewon district, many of them dressed in Halloween costumes. In total, about 100,000 people would have been on the street. “Itaewon is extremely busy every year, but this year was just crazy,” one woman wrote on her Instagram account.

Rumors were also circulating that a prominent YouTuber was heading to a club on the affected street, prompting even more people to flock to the accident site.

According to reports, the first reports of the accident were received by the fire brigade and police around 10:15 pm local time. According to eyewitness accounts, the alleys around the accident site were so crowded that rescuers struggled to get through the crowds and reach the victims.

Online videos circulating on social media showed dozens of people lying on the side of the road covered in blue plastic sheeting. In total, emergency services attempted to resuscitate more than 50 people, the national news agency Yonhap reported. Accordingly, more than 140 rescue vehicles were in use. The area has been extensively cordoned off. The bodies were transported to a sports hall in the morning hours, where they would be identified by relatives.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered a thorough investigation and national mourning on Sunday morning. The exact circumstances of the disaster are still unclear, the police say they will also check whether there are any violations of the safety regulations.

President Yoon chaired an emergency meeting on Sunday evening. To that end, he ordered more emergency services to be sent to the area and hospital beds ready.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se Hoon reportedly canceled all appointments during a visit to Europe and was on his way back to the South Korean capital. The city has also set up a missing persons report line.

“It’s really terrible,” President Yoon said in a speech on Sunday from his office, which is not far from the entertainment area. And further: the tragedy in the center of Seoul should not have happened. As president responsible for the lives and safety of citizens, he feels deep sadness. The cabinet will declare the phase until the incident is under control a national mourning period.

The tragedy also caused horror abroad. Federal President Ignazio Cassis expressed his condolences on Twitter:

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his condolences to the families and victims. “The tragic events in Seoul shock us deeply,” the SPD politician said on Twitter. “Our thoughts are with the many victims and their families. This is a sad day for South Korea. Germany is on their side.”

US President Joe Biden also commented on the accident. He and his wife Jill shared their mourning with South Korea. “The alliance between our countries has never been more vibrant and vibrant – and the ties between our citizens stronger than ever.”

French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the South Korean people directly. France is on their side, according to Macron.

The tragedy in South Korea has caused concern worldwide. Thousands of people share the hashtag #PrayForItaewon on social media.

(dsc/con/sda/dpa)