Status: 10/29/2022 6:46 p.m
About 50 people have suffered cardiac arrest in a crowd in the South Korean capital. It is still unclear how many of them could be resuscitated. The first media reports speak of at least two dead.
In the South Korean capital of Seoul, there was a momentous crowd on a narrow street during Halloween celebrations. According to the authorities, about 50 people suffered a cardiac arrest. Rescue workers rushed to try to resuscitate the victims. A number of deaths were feared. Choi Cheon Sik from the Fire Department said people were believed to have been crushed to death. However, there are no further details yet. A report by the South Korean broadcaster KBS speaks of two fatalities.
According to the authorities, around 100 people were injured in total. According to police, dozens of people were given first aid at the scene. Numerous other people were taken to hospitals. More than 400 rescue workers and around 140 ambulances were on site. President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered more emergency personnel to be sent to the region and hospital beds to be prepared.
Numerous rescue workers and emergency vehicles rushed to the scene of the accident in central Seoul.
Image: EPA
Pictures show attempts at resuscitation
Numerous photos and videos were distributed via the short message service Twitter, which are said to show the events in the Itaewon district, a popular nightlife area in Seoul. 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.
It is still unclear how the serious crush came about. According to local media reports, numerous people are said to have tried to get to a bar where a prominent person is said to have been staying.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol 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.