At least 146 killed in Halloween stampede: South Korea
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The Yongsan-gu Fire Department in Seoul reports the death of at least 146 and the injury of at least 150 on Saturday night during Halloween festivities.
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The cause of the incident is still being investigated by authorities. No gas leak or fire on site was reported
At least 146 people have died and at least 150 others have been reported as injured on Saturday night during the Halloween festivities in Seoul’s Itaewon neighborhood, according to Choi Seong-bum, chief of the Yongsan-gu Fire Department.
While the cause of the deaths has not yet been confirmed, the chief said many people fell during the festivities, resulting in casualties. He also noted that reports have been received of people getting "buried" in crowds around 10:24 pm local time.
A fire brigade official confirmed the news to AFP, adding that more than 140 ambulances had been dispatched to the scene to help the victims.
Earlier, the Yonhap News Agency reported, citing fire authorities, that some individuals suffered from "cardiac arrest." Emergency officials helped at least 81 people in the Itaewon neighborhood who were having "difficulty breathing."
Dozens of those injured were transferred to hospitals in the region, according to Choi Jae-won, the head of Yongsan Health Center.
The cause of the incident is still being investigated by authorities. No gas leak or fire on site was reported, the fire chief said.
It is worth noting that Itaewon is a destination known for Halloween celebrations in the South Korean capital, and the incident apparently happened due to a crash resulting from the size of the crowd.
President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered the dispatching of first aid teams and the securing of hospital beds for those affected in a swift manner, the presidential office said.
