Topline
At least 146 people were killed and 150 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.
At least 146 people were killed when a large crowd pushed forward on a narrow street during … [+]
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.
Tens of thousands of people were in the area for the festivities, according to Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, the first outdoor Halloween event since pandemic-era mask mandates were lifted—the BBC put the attendance at roughly 100,000.
At least 50 of those dead suffered cardiac arrest, Yonhap News Agency reported, with people in their 20s making up the majority.
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.
Rescue workers, firefighters and police officers responding, after at least 120 people were killed … [+]
Many of those killed suffered cardiac arrest, officials said, while photos and videos posted on … [+]
South Korea President Yoon Suk-yeol dispatched the country’s disaster medical assistance team for … [+]
Seoul’s Yongsan fire chief Choi Seong-beom said 74 of those dead had been taken to local hospitals, … [+]
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-146-killed-in-seoul-halloween-stampede/