SEOUL, South Korea — The South Korean authorities will conduct a radical investigation into the Halloween crowd crush that killed greater than 150 folks within the capital over the weekend, officers stated Monday, because the nation mourned its worst catastrophe in years.
Tens of hundreds of individuals had gathered on Saturday in Itaewon, a nightlife district of Seoul that’s well-liked with foreigners, when a crowd surge started in a sloped and slender alleyway, setting off a lethal panic.
Most of the revelers have been of their teenagers and 20s and wearing costume for the nation’s first Halloween celebration with out Covid restrictions in three years.
The loss of life toll within the catastrophe elevated by one to 154 as of Monday morning, together with two People and 24 different overseas nationals. All however one of many victims have been recognized, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stated.
The variety of injured additionally rose to 149, together with 33 in severe situation.
Witnesses steered there was inadequate police presence to manage the crowds, which can have been bigger than anticipated.
Officers “will completely examine the reason for the accident and do our greatest in bettering our institutional system in order that comparable accidents aren’t repeated sooner or later,” Han stated at a gathering.
He additionally urged the general public to not unfold false info, hate speech or graphic video from the scene.
President Yoon Suk Yeol has ordered a weeklong nationwide mourning interval, and memorials are being arrange in entrance of Metropolis Corridor and at one other web site in Itaewon.
Whereas Halloween just isn’t a conventional vacation in South Korea, Itaewon is understood for its costume events at bars and golf equipment, which have soared in recognition lately.
The gang surge is the nation’s deadliest peacetime accident for the reason that 2014 sinking of the Sewol ferry. That accident, by which 304 folks have been killed, additionally affected primarily younger folks.
Stella Kim and Thomas Maresca reported from Seoul, and Jennifer Jett reported from Hong Kong.
