Nearly 150 Killed In South Korea Halloween Stampede
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
SEOUL (Worthy News) – South Korean officials say at least 146 people died in a stampede among huge Halloween party crowds in a popular nightlife area of the capital Seoul.
The Asian country’s Yonhap news agency also cited emergency services saying as many as 150 more had been injured in Seoul’s Itaewon district.
Choi Cheon-sik, an official from the national fire agency, gave slightly lower numbers saying some 100 people had been reported as injured during the surge on Saturday night.
Choi explained it was believed that some people had been crushed to death after a large crowd began pushing forward in a narrow alley near Hamilton hotel, a significant party spot in Seoul.
He told the media that more than 400 emergency workers from around the country had been rushed to the streets to treat the injured.
BODIES SEEN
As he spoke, footage emerged of first responders administering emergency treatment to multiple people lying in the streets.
Amid the mayhem, reporters saw that several bodies covered in yellow sheets were sent off in ambulances.
Late-night partygoers, some in Halloween attire, were struggling to work their way home.
The Halloween incident underscored broader concerns among critics, including Christian groups and concerned parents, about the annual Halloween holiday and its atmosphere.
The South Korean president, Yoon Suk-yeol, urged officials to ensure swift treatment for those injured and review the safety of the festivity sites.
He instructed the health ministry to swiftly deploy disaster medical assistance teams and secure beds in nearby hospitals to treat survivors of the country’s deadliest Halloween disaster in recent memory.
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