South Korean emergency officials said that at least 149 people, mostly teens and young adults in their 20s, were crushed to death on Saturday night in the country's capital Seoul after a large group of people enjoying Halloween was pushed down an alley in a popular nightlife area.
Choi Sung-beom, chief of the Yongsan Fire Station, stated in a press briefing that 65 individuals suffered injuries in the Seoul Halloween tragedy in the Itaewon area, according to Reuters.
Officials said 19 of the injured are in critical condition and needing emergency care. Hence, the death toll could climb.
After three years, South Korea finally held a Halloween celebration again after removing COVID restrictions and social isolation.
Unruly Crowd
Some eyewitnesses said things were chaotic right before the stampede happened, and the police who had been stationed there in advance of the Halloween celebration had difficulty keeping the masses under control.
A report of the stampede was made to authorities at 10:20 p.m. local time. As a result of the overwhelming number of people, emergency workers were delayed in arriving at the scene.
According to Choi, many of the fatalities were young women in their twenties.
More than 100,000 people visited the area, which is well-known for its nightlife, specifically to celebrate Seoul Halloween. There are pubs along the side streets off of the main drag. According to eyewitnesses, some people became trapped in sloping and curving alleyways, as per a report from ABC News.
Videos uploaded online of the Seoul Halloween stampede showed rescue workers and police trying to extricate hundreds of people trapped in the small, steep alley.
FLASH: A massive stampede occurred in South Korea during a Halloween parade. At least 120 people have died. Watch as dozens receive CPR in the street:https://t.co/NsJ0jFzKSb
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) October 29, 2022
Authorities have stated that they are looking into what caused the sudden influx of people.
World Leaders Express Thoughts and Prayers For Victims
CNN reported that World leaders have expressed condolences and solidarity with South Korea following the horrible tragedy.
United States President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill said: "We grieve with the people of the Republic of Korea and send our best wishes for a quick recovery to all those who were injured."
Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in Seoul. We grieve with the people of the Republic of Korea and wish for a quick recovery to all those who were injured. The United States stands with the Republic of Korea during this tragic time.
— President Biden (@POTUS) October 29, 2022
Philip Seth Goldberg, US ambassador to South Korea since 2022, sent his thoughts and condolences to the Korean people and families of the victims of the tragedy in Itaewon. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak posted on Twitter a solidarity message for the victims and the responders in the fatal incident.
Horrific news from Seoul tonight.
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 29, 2022
All our thoughts are with those currently responding and all South Koreans at this very distressing time.
President Emmanuel Macron tweeted in French and Korean his message of solidarity for South Korean people amid the difficult situation.
Une pensée émue ce soir pour les habitants de Séoul et pour l'ensemble du peuple coréen après le drame d'Itaewon. La France est à vos côtés.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 29, 2022
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed in a statement that the victims and their families are in included in their prayers and that"Germany stands by their side."
The tragic events in #Seoul come as a shock to all of us. Our thoughts are with the numerous victims and their families. This is a sad day for South Korea. Germany stands by their side.
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) October 29, 2022
Similarly, the Australian government has extended its condolences.
The nation's prime minister, Anthony Albanese, expressed his deepest sympathies to those who had lost loved ones in the tragedy via Twitter.
Australia's embassy in Seoul is "urgently" asking local authorities if any Australians were involved in the incident.
