At least 151 people were killed and another 76 injured in the crowd Saturday night after Halloween celebrations proved deadly in the South Korean capital.
The stampede broke out in Itaewon, a Seoul neighborhood popular with both locals and foreigners for its international cuisine and nightlife. An estimated 100,000 people have flocked to the neighborhood to celebrate Halloween, forming the largest crowd seen in the area since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local media reports that the increase in crowds is believed to have taken place on a main street, in a narrow alley lined with bars and restaurants.
Seoul Yongsan Fire Chief Choi Seong-Beom said the death toll could rise and the exact number of people in critical condition is still unclear. Many of the victims were young adults, according to local media.
Rescuers from all over the country were sent to the district to treat the injured in a temporary medical facility. Images and videos from the scene show rescuers carrying away some of the dead and injured on stretchers, while many covered bodies lay in the street.
President Yoon Suk Yeol called a meeting and ordered officials to deploy emergency personnel, protect hospital beds and treat the wounded. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-Hoon interrupted a trip to Europe to return home.
Saturday’s stampede is the deadliest known mass disaster in South Korean history. In 2005, 11 people were killed and more than 50 injured during a pop concert in the southern city of Sangju. This was at least the second wave of deadly mobs documented this month. In early October, 125 people died near the gates of a football stadium in Indonesia, many of whom were trampled or suffocated. Even after last night’s tragedy, the party continued in the side streets of Itaewon until morning.
Associated Press contributed to this report.