Flowers have been placed at the location where more than 150 people lost their lives in a devastating stampede that occurred yesterday on Halloween in South Korea.
The tragic incident occurred in Seoul, the nation’s capital, when tens of thousands of people, mostly in their teens and 20s, traveled to the Itaewon neighborhood on Saturday night for Halloween festivities.
Today, a time of national mourning will be observed in order to honor the 154 victims of the tragedy.
One of the biggest calamities to ever hit the nation will be thoroughly investigated, according to Yoon Suk-Yeol, the president of the nation.
At the scene of the fatal occurrence, mourners were spotted around the city laying flowers, messages, candles, and picture frames. Others were observed praying on the congested streets and leaving funeral odes to the deceased.
He described the tragic episode as a “tragedy and calamity that should not have occurred” in a broadcast speech to the country.
In order to prevent a repeat of the catastrophe, he said, the administration “will properly study the incident’s cause and make fundamental adjustments.”
Up to 100,000 people are said to have flocked to the famous nightlife quarter of the capital, clogging the area’s twisting streets and tight passageways.
Witnesses who managed to escape the crush recounted being caught in steep, cramped passageways while trying to escape the stifling mass of people.
According to the interior ministry, 20 foreign nationals were among those killed in the stampede, which happened at around 10 o’clock local time. 133 other persons suffered injuries.
Two US citizens’ deaths were verified by the US Embassy in Seoul, while three Russian citizens were also reported dead. In addition, China acknowledged the deaths of four of its citizens, and President Xi Jinping sent his “deep condolences” to Seoul.
Young ladies in their 20s made up the majority of the victims. Three military personnel were among the deceased, according to defense ministry officials, who also reported that more than 2,600 individuals had been reported missing.
According to reports, those deceased include foreigners from Uzbekistan, Austria, Norway, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Sri Lanka.
When paramedics initially got on the scene, they were rapidly overwhelmed by the amount of patience and were pleading with bystanders to do CPR.
A doctor who attended the event, Lee Beom-suk, recounted the turmoil in an interview with local TV YTN.
“So many victims’ faces were pallid,” he remarked. Their respiration and pulse eluded me, and several of them had bloody noses. In addition to doing CPR, I also collected blood from their lips.
According to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the government has chosen to observe a period of national mourning from now until midnight on November 5 in remembrance of the deceased.
Oh Se-hoon, the mayor of Seoul, who had just returned from a business trip in Europe, said that his office would erect a memorial alter on Monday morning so that people might pay their condolences to the deceased.
After visiting the tragedy scene, he said: “It makes it even more terrible that most of the victims are young people, like our sons and daughters.”
It’s still unclear exactly what led to the fatal crush. According to early rumors, which Sky reported, people may have flocked to the busy party district after hearing that a celebrity was nearby.
Others have argued that if too many people use the street as a shortcut to the main street’s bars and nightclubs, they might clog it up.
It’s been three years since Seoul’s youth have been permitted to celebrate Halloween outside because to severe pandemic restrictions and the fact that South Korea was one of the last nations in the world to relax societal norms.
Two hours before to the deadly tragedy, individuals had to wait 20 to 30 minutes to depart an underground station, which, according to witnesses, was one of the first indications that the crowds had gotten out of hand.
One witness told Sky that when they first saw emergency personnel arrive, they first believed it was to help control the masses, but eventually realized the true nature of the situation.
Them allegedly obstructed an ambulance from getting to the accident scene as the police could be heard ordering people to leave via a megaphone. This is what benefits us. Please break up.
As witnesses on Sunday detailed scenes of turmoil in the seconds before the stampede, officials said they had no clear sense of what prompted the crush.
Local business owners in the party area told AFP that this year’s Halloween festivities had a “unprecedently huge” turnout.
With interior minister Lee Sang-min stating at a briefing that the police force had been busy on the other side of the town, concerns have now been raised over the lack of security at the event.
A sizable throng was anticipated for a demonstration at Gwanghwamun, where a sizable number had been stationed, he added.
A Costa Rican architect named Ken Fallas who has spent the last eight years working in Seoul saw the terrible catastrophe on Saturday night.
The 32-year-old was there at the Halloween party in the city’s entertainment area and saw the catastrophe firsthand.
Thousands of people were pressing their way into the alleyway, including Mr. Fallas and his pals. He recalled what he had seen and stated, “We were unable to go back.” Loud music was playing. Who knew what was going on?
“Despite the situation unfolding in front of us, people were still having a good time.” What was going on and where might we go, we wondered. There wasn’t a way out.
He captured the fatal crowd rush, which included scenes of Halloween partygoers dragging out their comatose companions and doing CPR on the wounded as music blared.
“I observed a lot of people laughing, but I don’t believe they were (really) laughing because, you know, what’s funny?” he said.
They were giggling out of fear, so they said. Because it’s difficult to stand in front of something like that. Some people struggle to absorb it.
From all around the globe, sympathy messages have poured into South Korea. The Prince and Princess of Wales sent their “love and prayers” to everyone impacted by the sad Halloween stampede this afternoon.
“Catherine and I extend all our thoughts and prayers to the parents, families, and loved ones of those cruelly killed in Seoul last evening,” Prince William and Princess Kate tweeted from their official account. W & C.’
Their remark follows that of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who expressed his condolences to “all South Koreans” and “those now reacting” in the wake of the terrible news.