HALLOWEEN: 146 killed, 150 injured in stampede in Seoul

Seoul, South Korea | Xinhua | At least 146 people were killed and 150 others injured in a stampede accident that occurred Saturday night at Itaewon, a district of the South Korean capital Seoul, during Halloween gatherings, local authorities said early Sunday morning.

Local media reported earlier that about 50 people were suspected to have gone into cardiac arrest in the stampede accident. More than 140 first-aid vehicles had been sent to the scene to rescue the injured.

A total of 81 rescue reports on difficulty in breathing were delivered to the firefighting authorities, according to local media.

The accident was believed to have happened near a narrow alley next to a hotel in the district. Several Halloween gatherings took place at Itaewon and police estimated that roughly 100,000 people had participated in the Halloween parties.

Shortly after the stampede took place, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol convened two emergency meetings and ordered officials to secure enough hospital beds for the injured, establish an accident management headquarters, and properly deal with the aftermath including identifying the dead and investigating the cause of the accident. ■