South Korea mourns more than 150 deaths in the riot of thousands of young people celebrating Halloween on its streets on Saturday night (29). itaewon, in the capital area of Seoul. At least 153 people were killed and 82 injured in one of the country’s worst tragedies, where the president has promised further investigation.
By Local authorities said 20 of the 153 dead were foreigners.. According to the fire chief, the tragedy occurred around 22:00 local time on Saturday, and 82 people were also injured, 19 of them seriously. Authorities say the victims were trampled underfoot after a riot that was unclear exactly how it started. According to Choi, most of the victims were women in their 20s. Authorities said most of the injured were in serious condition and were receiving immediate treatment. authorities.
Nearly 100,000 people flocked to Itaewon for the country’s biggest Halloween party since the start of the pandemic. The neighborhood is known for its bars, clubs and restaurants and is popular with young South Koreans and foreigners alike.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared national mourning on Sunday and said the government would conduct a “comprehensive investigation” into the causes and take steps to ensure such an event “does not recur in the future”. . . .
It’s still unclear what drove the crowds down a narrow slope near the Hamilton Hotel, a popular party venue in Seoul. The cause of the tragedy is being investigated. According to the agency Yonhap, rumors on the site point to different causes. The crowd is suspicious was there gathered to see a celebrity. According to another rumor, drug-infused sweets are being distributed at local clubs.
A survivor identified as who told the local newspaper Hankyoreh many people fell and knocked over others like dominoes. He said he was stranded for about an hour and a half before being rescued, with some people screaming for help.
According to the newspaper, another witness said he saw about five men pushing others before some began to fall down the alley.
According to the local agency, one of the survivors said he managed to save himself by breaking into a bar in an alley. Yonhap. A woman in her 20s said she and the others managed to escape because they were on the side of the road, while those caught in the crowd had no escape.
Videos circulating on social media show hundreds of people trying to cross a narrow street. Other images show the wounded lying on the ground receiving medical attention.
A witness told Reuters that a makeshift morgue was set up in a building adjacent to the site. According to the witness, about 50 bodies were later transported on stretchers and transferred to a government facility for the victim’s identification.
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More than 1,700 workers were sent to rescue the injured, 520 firefighters and 1,100 police officers.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a statement urging authorities to provide emergency treatment to the injured and to strengthen security at the venues where the party was held.
He also ordered the Ministry of Health to urgently send medical aid teams and secure beds in nearby hospitals to treat the injured.
source: Noticias
