At least 9 dead, dozens injured after Halloween crowd surge in Seoul

At least nine people were killed and dozens injured after they were crushed by a large crowd moving forward on a narrow street during Halloween celebrations in the capital Seoul, South Korean officials said.

National Fire Agency spokesman Choi Cheong-sik said about 60 people were injured in a stampede Saturday night in the Itaewon resort area, and the death toll could rise.

Choi said people were believed to have been crushed to death after a large crowd began pushing forward in a narrow alley outside the Hamilton Hotel, Seoul’s main party spot.

He said more than 400 ambulance personnel and 140 vehicles from across the country, including all available personnel in Seoul, were deployed on the streets to treat victims.

Officials did not immediately release the death toll, as they usually do not until deaths are confirmed at hospitals. The National Fire Agency said in a statement that officials are still trying to determine the exact number of patients who received emergency treatment.

Television footage and photos from the scene showed ambulances lined the streets amid a heavy police presence and paramedics carrying the injured on stretchers. Emergency personnel and pedestrians were also seen performing CPR on people lying on the streets. Several people, apparently among the injured, were seen covered with yellow blankets.

Photos released by Yonhap showed more than a dozen people lying prostrate on a street cordoned off by authorities, with some being attended to by rescue workers.

Police also confirmed that dozens of people were receiving CPR on the streets of Itaewon, while many others were taken to nearby hospitals.

A local police officer said he was also told there was a stampede on the streets of Itaewon, where crowds of people had gathered for Halloween. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity, saying the details of the incident were still being investigated.

Earlier, some local media reported that the crash occurred after a large number of people rushed to the Itaewon bar after hearing that an unknown celebrity had visited.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol issued a statement calling on officials to provide prompt aid to victims and check the safety of the celebrations. He also instructed the Ministry of Health to quickly deploy medical teams and provide beds in a nearby hospital to treat the injured.

Local media reported that around 100,000 people gathered on the streets of Itaewon for Halloween celebrations, the biggest in years since the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in recent months.

AFP contributed to this report.