South Korea Mourns and Investigates , Deadly Halloween Crowd Surge.
NBC News reports that on Oct. 29, nearly 100,000 people gathered in the district of Itaewon for South Korea's largest Halloween celebration since the onset of the pandemic.
A crowd surge began in a narrow alleyway and led to the deaths of over 150 people, including two Americans.
A crowd surge began in a narrow alleyway and led to the deaths of over 150 people, including two Americans.
Over 140 more people were injured,
with 33 in serious condition.
Over 140 more people were injured,
with 33 in serious condition.
On Oct. 31, Seoul police admitted
to errors in handling the crowd.
On Oct. 31, Seoul police admitted
to errors in handling the crowd.
NBC News reports that a top police official said that
while authorities anticipated the large crowds,
they didn't consider the possibility of a deadly surge.
The focus was on traffic control, crime prevention and illegal activities and not on the safety of the crowd flow on the streets and narrow alleyways, Hong Ki-hyun, chief of the National Police Agency’s Public
Order Management Bureau, via NBC News.
I was told that police officers on the scene didn’t detect a sudden surge in the crowd. I regret the error in judgment call of these officers. , Hong Ki-hyun, chief of the National Police Agency’s Public
Order Management Bureau, via NBC News.
President Yoon Suk-yeol has ordered a weeklong mourning period for the nation. .
President Yoon Suk-yeol has ordered a weeklong mourning period for the nation. .
I am engulfed with sorrow and responsibility as the president in charge of the lives and safety of our people, as I think about the bereaving families suffering from the loss of their loved ones, President Yoon Suk-yeol, via statement.
My heart breaks so much at the tragic loss especially of the young people, whose dreams now cannot see the light, President Yoon Suk-yeol, via statement