At least 149 people have died and 79 have been injured in a serious and massive human stampede that occurred during a Halloween party in the Itaewon neighborhood of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, according to the latest report released by the Fire Department.
According to South Korean media, the accident took place when a crowd gathered on a narrow street about four meters wide, a downhill slope next to the Hamilton Hotel in downtown Itaewon.
At 10:46 p.m. on October 29, there has been a crowd accident near the Hamilton Hotel,» the South Korean Ministry of Interior’s Disaster and Safety Headquarters previously reported. Emergency services have received at least 81 calls from the Hamilton Hotel area for breathing difficulties since 11:30 pm.
An eyewitness quoted by Yonhap explained that people started to leave around 10:30 a.m. and ten minutes later «everyone suddenly started to fall and the people who were left below were crushed». Other people present have described that people were piled up in «layers» of up to five and six levels.
The latest figure shared at 6:00 a.m. (local time) raised the death toll by three from the 4:00 a.m. figure, as these people lost their lives while being treated by health workers. The authorities have indicated that most of the deceased were young people around 20 years of age and that there are foreigners among the victims.
Of the confirmed fatalities, 104 died after being transported to various hospitals and 45 others lost their lives at the scene. Their bodies were temporarily transferred to Wonhyo Gymnasium and then taken to Soonchunhyang University Hospital morgue in Yongsan.
Among the injured, 19 people are in serious condition and authorities do not rule out that the death toll could rise in the coming hours, according to Yonhap news agency.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police have already opened an investigation and the Fire Department has activated a Level Three response at 23.50 hours and sent personnel to the area, where a field hospital has already been set up with support from Seoul National University Hospital, Kyunghee University Hospital and Hanyang University Hospital.
At least 143 emergency vehicles including ambulances and fire trucks have been dispatched to the site along with 848 professional rescuers. According to the Korean news agency Yonhap, these personnel carried out the search work until 3:00 am.
Fire crews have reported the «difficulty in breathing» they experienced upon arrival in the area, when they proceeded to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers as soon as the bodies were moved to the main road. Local media have reported that friends and citizens have also made efforts to resuscitate those affected, given the large volume of victims.
The injured have been taken to Soonchunhyang University Hospital, National Medical Center, Mokdong Ewha Female University Hospital, Gangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, Chungang University Hospital, Seoul National University Hospital and Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital. Soonchunhyang University Hospital has set up a dedicated morgue for the victims.
Local shopkeepers interviewed by local Yonhap explained that crowds began to gather in the area during the day and by nightfall tens of thousands of people filled the narrow streets of Itaewon.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has convened an emergency meeting of the Presidential Crisis Management Center in Yongsan, Seoul. Seoul Mayor Oh Se Hoon has also been informed and is returning from Europe after suspending a trip during which he was scheduled to visit four countries.
Police had previously reported that they expected a large gathering of about 100,000 people at the Halloween party where the tragedy occurred. Officers have proceeded to close all bars and restaurants near the accident site since 1.00 am.
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SOLIDATES WITH SEOUL The President of the United States, Joe Biden, has conveyed his condolences on behalf of himself and his wife, Jill Biden, to all the families who have lost their loved ones in Seoul.
«We feel the Republic of Korea’s grief and send our best wishes for a speedy recovery to all those who have been injured. The alliance between our countries has never been more vital and the bonds between our people are stronger than ever. The United States stands with the Republic of Korea during this difficult time,» reads the statement released by the White House.
The President of the European Council, Charles Michael, has also expressed his ‘shock’ at so many deaths during the Halloween celebrations. «My deepest condolences to all the families and friends of the victims of the terrible accident in South Korea,» he wrote on his Twitter profile. He also wished all those injured a speedy recovery and said that the European Union stands with them in solidarity.
The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, has also spoken in the same vein, stating that she was shocked by the latest news from Seoul. «My thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have lost their lives and those who have been injured,» she wrote.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his condolences on the same social network. «The tragic events in Seoul have left us in ‘shock’. Our thoughts are with the many victims and their families. It is a sad day for South Korea and Germany stands by them,» he said.
In the same vein, French President Emmanuel Macron conveyed the support of the French country to Seoul, a country for which he said he has a «moving thought» tonight.
