Topline
At least 120 people were killed and 100 injured in a deadly crowd surge at a Halloween event in Seoul, South Korea, local officials confirmed Saturday—and the death toll is likely to rise.
Key Facts
Seoul Yongsan fire chief Choi Seong-beom said he expects the death toll to rise, adding that an unspecified number of people injured in the stampede are in critical condition, Nikkea Asia reported.
South Korea officials launched an investigation into the cause of the stampede, which occurred in a narrow alleyway outside the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon, a neighborhood in the center of Seoul known for its nightlife.
Roughly 100,000 people were in the area for the festivities, the first outdoor Halloween event since pandemic-era mask mandates were lifted, the BBC reported.
This is a developing story.
Crucial Quote
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol dispatched the country’s disaster medical assistance team, saying in a statement the “top priority right now is saving and evacuating patients, and providing prompt transportation and treatment to victims,” the Korea Herald reported.
Further Reading
South Korea Halloween crush kills 120, injures 100 – officials (BBC)
At least 120 killed during incident at Halloween festivities in Seoul (CNN)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/10/29/at-least-120-killed-in-seoul-halloween-stampede/