JUST NOW: Celebrations ended in tragedy - at least 146 dead
Of:
Alexander Bönke
Lina Thorén
Victor Lindbom
Published: Today 17.42
Updated: Less than 10 min ago
NEWS
146
people have died and over 100 have been injured during a Halloween
celebration in the South Korean capital of Seoul.
Intensive rescue work is currently underway.
- There are a lot of people out on the streets, who have been out to
celebrate Halloween, says Aftonbladet's Victor Lindbom, who is there.
The accident happened late Saturday night local time when over a hundred
thousand people crowded into Seoul's Itaewon entertainment district to
celebrate Halloween.
At least 146 people have died, at least 100 injured, according to
Reuters.
But according to Seoul fire chief Choi Seong-beom, the death toll could
rise.
South Korea's president has issued orders that the city's streets be
evacuated to make room for the many ambulances participating in the
rescue operation. Photo: AP
It is unclear exactly what caused the accident, but according to
witnesses, panic broke out when a large crowd was about to descend a
hill in a narrow alley. Several are said to have fallen, which led to
chaos when people fell over each other.
According to the South Korean daily newspaper Chosun, 46 people are said
to have died on the spot in the alley. They must have been stuck,
without the possibility of getting free.
Over 100,000 people are said to have gathered in the neighborhood to
celebrate Halloween. Photo: AP
-
The area is still chaotic, and we are still trying to understand
exactly how many people are injured, said Moon Hyun-joo, from the South
Korean fire brigade, according to the BBC citing Reuters.
TV clips from the scene show medical staff trying to give others CPR and
along the alleys the rows of dead grow as more and more bodies are
pulled from piles of people.
Hundreds of people are involved in the major rescue operation currently
underway at the site. Photo: Lee Ji-eun / AP
The nearby Soonchunhyang University Hospital is said to be full.
"There is not enough room in the morgue," a hospital representative told Chosun.
Hundreds of people are involved in the major rescue operation currently
underway at the site. Photo: Lee Ji-eun / AP
The nearby Soonchunhyang University Hospital is said to be full.
"There is not enough room in the morgue," a hospital representative told Chosun.
Warned of the crowd
Over 400 people from the rescue service and 140 rescue vehicles are to work at the scene of the accident.
BBC journalist Hosu Lee is there. He testifies to chaotic scenes.
- Many young people have gathered here tonight. Many are upset and sad, he tells the BBC.
According
to the BBC, several people on social media warned of the congestion
earlier in the evening. They must have expressed that it felt unsafe.
Photo: Lee Jin-man / AP / TT
Photo: Lee Jin-man / AP / TT
"Packed with people"
Earlier in the evening, Aftonbladet's reporter Victor Lindbom was out on the streets of Seoul and there was a party atmosphere.
- It's Saturday night and also Halloween so it was packed with people who were out having fun. Above all young people, teenagers and students, but also families with children. Halloween is super big here and people dress up as Squid games characters, zombies and manga characters.
The Halloween celebration in Seoul is extra big this year because it is the first year after the pandemic so people can dress up without having to wear a face mask, local residents tell Aftonbladet's reporter on the spot. Photo: Victor Lindbom
The president calls a crisis meeting
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has called a crisis meeting.
"Our top priority is to transport and rescue the patients and provide medical care to the injured," he said in a statement.
He also ordered immediate action to clear the streets so that the ambulances can reach the injured.
Hundreds of rescue workers, firefighters and police are working at the scene. At least 146 people were killed and many injured when they got stuck in the crowd on a narrow street during Halloween festivities. Photo: Lee Jin-man / AP / TT
On the main street of Itaewon, the authorities have set up an emergency center to take care of the injured
Moments later, Suk-yeol called another emergency meeting and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon cut short his trip in Europe to immediately return to South Korea.
Aftonbladet's reporter Victor Lindbom is there: "Ambulances are speeding toward the area." Photo: Victor Lindbom
According to Aftonbladet's reporter on the spot, the streets of Seoul were packed with Halloween revelers during the evening. Photo: Victor Lindbom
It was in connection with a Halloween celebration in Seoul that the tragedy occurred. Photo: Lee Jin-man / AP
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