No less than 9 lifeless, dozens injured after Halloween crowd surge in Seoul

No less than 9 folks died and dozens have been injured after being crushed by a big crowd pushing ahead on a slim avenue throughout Halloween festivities within the capital metropolis of Seoul, South Korean officers stated.

Choi Cheon-sik, an official from the Nationwide Hearth Company, stated round 60 folks have been reported injured through the crowd surge Saturday evening within the Itaewon leisure district, and the loss of life toll may develop.

Choi stated it was believed that individuals have been crushed to loss of life after a big crowd started pushing ahead in a slim alley close to Hamilton Lodge, a significant celebration spot in Seoul.

He stated greater than 400 emergency employees and 140 automobiles from across the nation, together with all out there personnel in Seoul, have been deployed to the streets to deal with the injured.

Officers did not instantly launch a loss of life toll, as they often do not till the deaths are confirmed at hospitals. The Nationwide Hearth Company stated in a press release that officers have been nonetheless making an attempt to find out the precise variety of emergency sufferers.

TV footage and images from the scene confirmed ambulance automobiles lined up in streets amid a heavy police presence and emergency employees shifting the injured in stretchers. Emergency employees and pedestrians have been additionally seen performing CPR on folks mendacity within the streets. A number of folks, apparently amongst these injured, have been seen lined in yellow blankets.

Pictures printed by Yonhap appeared to indicate greater than a dozen folks mendacity susceptible on a avenue that had been cordoned off by authorities, with rescue employees tending to a few of them.

Police additionally confirmed that dozens of individuals have been being given CPR on Itaewon streets whereas many others have been taken to close by hospitals.

An area police officer stated he was additionally knowledgeable {that a} stampede occurred on Itaewon’s streets the place a crowd of individuals gathered for Halloween festivities. The officer requested anonymity, saying the main points of the incident have been nonetheless underneath investigation.

Some native media studies earlier stated the crush occurred after numerous folks rushed to an Itaewon bar after listening to an unidentified celeb visited there.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a press release calling for officers to make sure swift remedy for these injured and evaluation the security of the festivity websites. He additionally instructed the Well being Ministry to swiftly deploy catastrophe medical help groups and safe beds in close by hospital to deal with the injured.

Native media stated round 100,000 folks flocked to Itaewon streets for the Halloween festivities, which have been the most important in years following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in current months.

AFP contributed to this report.