With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Over 150 Dead After Halloween Crowd Surge In Seoul
Medical staff transport a victim of a Halloween crush on a stretcher in the district of Itaewon in Seoul on October 30, 2022.
(
Jung Yeon-Je
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
At least 153 people were killed and 133 others were injured in a crowd surge on Saturday night, after Halloween celebrations turned deadly in the capital of South Korea.
In LA
Los Angeles is home to a large South Korean population, LAist will be reporting on local impact and reaction.
The stampede broke out in Itaewon, a popular district in Seoul among locals and foreigners alike because of its international cuisine and nightlife.
Some 100,000 people were estimated to have flocked to the neighborhood to celebrate Halloween — forming the biggest crowds seen in the area since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sponsored message
Local media outlets report that the crowd surge is believed to have taken place off of a main street, in a narrow alley filled with bars and restaurants.
The chief of Seoul's Yongsan fire department, Choi Seong-Beom, said the death toll could rise and it's still unclear the exact number of people in critical condition. Many of the victims were young adults, according to local media reports.
Emergency workers from around the country were deployed to the district to treat the injured in a temporary medical center.
Pictures and videos from the scene show first responders taking some of the dead and injured away on stretchers, while many covered bodies lay in the street.
President Yoon Suk Yeol convened a meeting and ordered officials to deploy emergency personnel, secure hospital beds and treat the injured. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-Hoon cut short a trip to Europe to return home.
Saturday's stampede is the deadliest known crowd disaster in South Korean history. In 2005, 11 people were killed and more than 50 others were injured during a pop concert in the southern city of Sangju.
Sponsored message
This was at least the second deadly crowd surge documented this month. In early October, 125 people died near the gates at a soccer stadium in Indonesia, many of whom were trampled on or suffocated.
Even after last night's tragedy, partying has continued on the side streets of Itaewon into the morning.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit npr.org.
At LAist, we focus on what matters to our community: clear, fair, and transparent reporting that helps you make decisions with confidence and keeps powerful institutions accountable.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
