- South Kore, Seoul according to Choi Seong-bum, chief of the Yongsan-gu Fire Department
- At least 146 people were killed after an incident at Halloween festivities in Seoul Itaewon neighborhood Saturday Night.
- Dozens of injured people were transferred to surrounding hospitals, according to Choi Jae-won, the head of Yongsan Health Center.
South Korea, Seoul According to Choi Seong-bum, chief of the Yongsan-gu Fire Department, at least 146 people were killed after an incident at Halloween festivities in Seoul’s Itaewon neighborhood Saturday night.
At least 150 others were also reported injured, the chief added.
Authorities are still investigating what triggered the incident, but the fire chief stated that it was a “presumed rush” and that many individuals collapsed, resulting in casualties. The chief said they began receiving reports of persons “buried” in crowds at 10:24 p.m. local time Saturday night.
According to the chief, there was no gas leak or fire on the premises. The cause of death has yet to be determined.
Earlier, the Yonhap News Agency claimed that some persons had suffered from “cardiac arrest,” citing fire officials. At least 81 people in Seoul’s Itaewon neighbourhood reported “difficulty breathing,” according to emergency personnel.
Dozens of injured people were transferred to surrounding hospitals, according to Choi Jae-won, the head of Yongsan Health Center, who added that the death toll would most certainly rise.
As there are numerous unidentified victims, the Seoul municipal government is also getting reports of missing people. According to police, the victims’ bodies are being moved to various hospital mortuaries.
A witness told Digital News about a chaotic scene in which people were crammed into a tight street, unable to breathe.
“I saw individuals heading to the left side and someone going to the opposite side. So the person in the middle got stuck, and they couldn’t talk or breathe,” Song Sehyun told Digital News.
Police cordoned off the area, and social media videos showed individuals laying in the streets and on stretchers while first responders provided assistance.
According to the fire chief, nearly 1,700 emergency response personnel have been summoned, including 517 firefighters, 1,100 police officers, and approximately 70 government employees.
According to the presidential office, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol dispatched a disaster medical support team to the Halloween tragedy.
According to presidential spokesman Lee Jae-Myung, the president also directed officials to secureemergency beds in surrounding hospitals and to carry out quick rescue and treatment operations.
According to the office, Yoon was in an emergency meeting about the matter.