The death toll in the Halloween tragedy in the South Korean metropolis of Seoul has risen to more than 150. At least 151 people have been killed, the fire service reported Sunday morning (local time). Another 82 people were injured in the accident, some seriously. Among the dead were 19 foreigners.
The disaster struck Saturday night as a crowd erupted during Halloween celebrations in a narrow alleyway in the bustling nightlife scene of the capital Itaewon. Many people were crushed. Politicians around the world, such as US President Joe Biden, reacted with dismay.
Quickly clear hospital beds
Initially, the fire service had spoken of dozens of people with cardiac arrest. Photos and videos show people lying on the ground being cared for by rescuers. More than 140 ambulances were on the scene, according to the fire service. Police officers have cordoned off the scene of the accident in the popular entertainment district. President Yoon Suk Yeol has ordered that the hospital beds be evacuated as soon as possible.
The South Korean news agency Yonhap quoted an eyewitness who asked to remain anonymous. “People were on top of each other like in a tomb,” the witness described the scenes. “Some gradually lost consciousness, while others appeared dead at the time.”
Number of victims suddenly exploded
In an interview with local broadcaster YTN, a doctor described chaotic scenes from the tragedy. “When I first attempted CPR, there were two victims on the sidewalk. But shortly after, the numbers exploded and exceeded the number of first responders on the scene,” Lee said. Many passers-by came to help.
It is difficult to put the events into words. “The faces of so many victims were pale. I couldn’t feel their heartbeat or breathing, and many of them had nosebleeds. When I tried to resuscitate her, I also pumped blood from her mouth.”
Biden: ‘We mourn with the people’
The tragedy caused worldwide discontent. US President Biden said the US stands “next to” South Korea at this tragic moment. “We mourn with the people of the Republic of Korea and wish all injured a speedy recovery,” the Democrat wrote on Twitter.
EU Council President Charles Michel was also shocked and expressed his deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the terrible accident, the Belgian wrote on Twitter on Saturday.
Schallenberg: ‘My thoughts are with the relatives’
Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) also said on Twitter (originally in English): “I have just returned from South Korea and am deeply shocked by the tragic mass panic in #Seoul tonight. My thoughts are with the families of the victims and anyone injured in the stampede.”
Schallenberg had visited South Korea in recent days as part of a trip that lasted from Friday to Wednesday. The occasion was the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Austria and Korea, which had been upgraded to a “strategic partnership” last year.
Celebration actually from October 31 to November 1
The US-based Halloween festival is actually celebrated on the night of October 31 to November 1. It goes back to a Celtic custom, according to which evil spirits must be expelled at the beginning of the dark season.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
