The South Korean president announced on Sunday the start of a period of national mourning after the death of 149 people on Halloween night in Seoul and promised a “deep investigation” into the causes.
Yoon Suk-yeol declared national mourning “until the accident is under control” and vowed to give investigation of the case “top priority” in a speech to the nation.
At least 149 people were killed and some 150 injured in a stampede in central Seoul on Saturday night, according to a report by firefighters to the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency.
In central Seoul, tens of thousands of people, many in costume, were celebrating Halloween for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic and many were crushed to death as a large crowd surged down a narrow street.
Local media said some 100,000 people flocked to the streets of Itaewon for the Halloween festivities, which were the largest since the start of the covid-19 pandemic.
Several world leaders have already sent messages of condolence and solidarity to the South Korean authorities, such as the president of the United States, Joe Biden, who said that the United States is “on the side” of South Korea, sending “best wishes”. for the speedy recovery of all the injured”.
French President Emmanuel Macron also showed solidarity with the people of Seoul and across the country. “France is on his side,” added the head of state on the social network Twitter.
The Venezuelan government was another of those that showed solidarity with the families of the victims and the people of South Korea and, in a statement, wished the injured to recover quickly.
The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, also sent a message of condolences and solidarity to the South Korean head of state, Yoon Suk Yeol, for the tragedy that occurred during the Halloween festivities.
Source: TSF
