Seoul stampede causes 146+ deaths, the origin of panic is still unknown

In the South Korean capital Seoul on Saturday night at least 146 people were killed by a huge crowd to various Halloween parties in an entertainment area. According to reports from the country, things went completely wrong in a narrow street, among other things, and people were oppressed and trampled after panic broke out. Another 150 others were injured.

Update: numbers are still growing. There is 150 known dead and 350 more unaccounted.

Great chaos in Seoul at Halloween parties in the city

In the crowd that had gathered near the Hamilton hotel, in the Itaewon entertainment district, a great panic suddenly broke out for reasons still unclear. Many became unconscious or could not breathe.

In addition to the dead, there were at least 150 wounded in the chaos; some of them are in poor condition. The death toll may rise even further. Many people suffered a heart attack and were resuscitated on the spot, the authorities announced. Among the victims, especially young women, are also foreigners. “The people fell over each other, whereupon others were trampled elsewhere,” a witness told Yonhap News Agency. Party-goers fell “like dominoes”. In the crowd that had gathered near the Hamilton hotel, in the Itaewon entertainment district, suddenly erupted into a great panic for reasons still unclear. Many became unconscious or could not breathe.

In addition to the dead, there were at least 150 wounded in the chaos; some of them are in poor condition. The death toll may rise even further. Many people suffered a heart attack and were resuscitated on the spot, the authorities announced. Among the victims, especially young women, are also foreigners. “The people fell on top of each other, whereupon others were trampled elsewhere,” a witness told Yonhap News Agency.

The Emergency Service received more than 80 calls about people with respiratory problems in a short time. A total of 142 fire trucks and ambulances were sent to the busy area to assist the victims. About four hundred police officers were on their feet and another 850 medics were called. Emergency services were initially unable to reach the many victims due to the crowds.

Images on social media show how there are people on the streets everywhere. Many are cared for on the spot and resuscitated by rescuers and bystanders.

“The area is very chaotic, so we are still trying to find out the exact number of injured,” said a spokesman for the fire department.

South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol has called an emergency summit on the situation. Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who was visiting Europe, has canceled his trip and is flying back to Seoul as soon as possible. An estimated 100,000 people had come to Itaewon to celebrate Halloween, for the first time after the corona crisis without wearing face masks and keeping their distance.