Status: 10/29/2022 7:39 p.m
According to authorities, at least 59 people died in a crowd on a narrow street during Halloween celebrations in Seoul. The tragedy happened in a nightlife district of the South Korean capital. How the accident happened is still unclear.
At least 59 people were killed in a crowd in the South Korean capital Seoul, officials said. The Yonhap news agency also reported 150 injuries. Choi Cheon Sik from the Fire Department said people were probably crushed to death.
According to local media reports, around 100,000 people were in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon at the time of the accident. They took part in local Halloween celebrations – the biggest since the coronavirus pandemic began. How the accident happened in the narrow street is still unclear.
Hundreds of rescue workers on duty
Scores of people were taken to hospitals. More than 400 rescue workers and around 140 ambulances were on site. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered more emergency personnel to be sent to the region and hospital beds to be prepared.
Numerous photos and videos were distributed via the short message service Twitter, which are said to show the events in the Itaewon district. On the one hand, the recordings show the massive crowd, with people in the crowd obviously not having a chance to free themselves from the threatening situation. Other footage shows numerous people lying on the street and rescue workers and passers-by trying to revive them.
President Yon Suk-yeol called an emergency meeting and ordered security arrangements for celebrations to be reviewed. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is currently visiting Europe, is said to have announced his immediate return, according to Yonhap news agency.