By William Gallo | Voice of America
SEOUL — South Korean emergency officials say at least 120 people were killed during a stampede in a party-going district in South Korea’s capital, where young people had gathered for Halloween celebrations.
More than 100 people were injured in the incident in Seoul’s Itaewon area, which had been packed with Halloween crowds Saturday night, officials said at a late-night news conference.
The Itaewon area, located in central Seoul, is lined with nightclubs and bars that are popular with expatriates and locals.
The district appeared packed with partiers celebrating Halloween. Local media estimated about 100,000 people had gathered for Halloween festivities.
It is not immediately clear what sparked the stampede.
VOA’s William Gallo, who is on the scene, reported masses of crowds continued lingering outside Itaewon establishments at about 2:30 a.m. local time Sunday, as emergency officials nearby rushed bodies into a stream of waiting ambulances.
A witness who spoke to VOA said during the initial chaos she thought that people lying on the ground were drunk or passed out, but she later found out they were injured or dead. The partygoer did not provide a name because of the sensitivity of the situation.
Hours after the incident, many revelers remained stunned, some laughing and some crying, as they struggled to make sense of the situation.
Earlier, pictures and videos posted on social media depicted scenes of chaos as revelers, many dressed in Halloween costumes, attempted to resuscitate those who had been injured.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose office is near Itaewon, was presiding over a late-night government response, his office told reporters. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is in Europe, also has decided to return home, Yonhap reported. (VOA)
