Some 50 people went into cardiac arrest and several feared they would die after being crushed by a large crowd that packed a narrow street during Halloween festivities in the South Korean capital Seoul, local officials said.
Choi Cheon-sik, an official with the National Fire Agency, said about 100 people were injured during Saturday night’s surge of crowds in the Itaewon entertainment district, and about 50 were being treated for cardiac arrest. from the beginning of Sunday (still on Saturday in Lisbon).
According to Choi, people were crushed after a large crowd began to move into a narrow alley near the Hamilton Hotel, a major party venue in Seoul.
In addition, more than 400 emergency workers from across the country, including virtually all available personnel in Seoul, were deployed to the streets to treat the injured. Authorities did not immediately say the number of dead.
The video circulating in the media shows several rescuers performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on several people lying on the street.
Police also confirmed that dozens of people were receiving CPR on the streets of Itaewon, while many more were taken to nearby hospitals.
A local police officer said he was also told there was a stampede on the streets of Itaewon, where a crowd had gathered for Halloween festivities. The agent requested anonymity and said details of the incident were still being investigated.
Some local media reports previously said that the crush occurred after a large number of people rushed to an Itaewon bar after hearing that an unidentified celebrity was visiting.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a statement urging officials to ensure timely treatment of the injured and review the safety of the festivities.
He also instructed the Ministry of Health to quickly dispatch disaster medical assistance teams and secure beds at the nearby hospital to treat the injured.
Source: TSF
