South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered national mourning on Sunday after 151 people died in a crowd during Halloween celebrations in Seoul. Yoon offered his condolences to the victims’ families and wished the injured a speedy recovery. “A tragedy and catastrophe that should not have happened happened in the heart of Seoul last night,” the president said in a statement. Yoon promised to make sure that such an accident never happens again.
Around 10:20 p.m. local time (3:20 p.m. CEST), according to rescue workers, a large crowd of revelers crowded together in a narrow alley in Seoul’s Itaewon nightlife district. Many of the victims are young women between the ages of 20 and 30, according to the fire department. As eyewitnesses reported, part of the crowd then fell, but people kept pushing into the alley and burying those who had fallen.
The death toll could still rise
According to the fire department, the death toll could rise. According to fire chief Choi Sung-beom, the incident happened near a nightclub. A total of 82 people were injured, 19 of them seriously. The first reports spoke of 150 injuries. Among the fatalities are 19 foreigners who came from China, Iran, Uzbekistan and Norway, among others.
Videos distributed on social media are said to show how rescue workers and private individuals provided first aid at the scene of the accident. Photo by private individuals and agencies show dozens of victims covered with blankets and plastic sheeting. According to the Yonhap news agency, the emergency services tried to revive more than 50 people.
According to eyewitness reports, the streets around the scene of the accident were so crowded that the relief workers had difficulty making their way through the crowds. According to Yonhap, a total of 142 rescue vehicles were deployed.
Scholz: “The tragic events in Seoul shock us deeply”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed his condolences to the bereaved and victims of the Halloween tragedy in South Korea. “The tragic events in Seoul shock us deeply,” said the SPD politician on Twitter late Saturday evening. “Our thoughts are with the many victims and their families. This is a sad day for South Korea. Germany stands by their side.” A statement by US President Joe Biden said he and his wife Jill mourned with the people of South Korea. “The alliance between our countries has never been more vibrant and alive – and the ties between our citizens stronger than ever.”
EU Council President Charles Michel was deeply shocked. His deepest sympathy goes to the families and friends of the victims of the terrible accident, the Belgian wrote on Twitter on Saturday. He wished the injured a speedy recovery. “The EU stands by your side in solidarity.” The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, made a similar statement. She was shocked by the news from the South Korean capital Seoul. “My thoughts are with the families and friends of the dead and those injured.”