In the stampede that broke out during the 'Halloween' celebrations in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, 153 people lost their lives and 19 people were injured, 82 of them seriously. It was determined that 22 of the dead were foreign nationals. While national mourning was declared in the country, no official statement has yet been made regarding the cause of the stampede. In the news in the local media; It was claimed that as a result of a famous name coming to the entertainment venue in the region, the crowd flocked to that direction. The Turkish Embassy in Seoul reported that no Turkish citizens were killed or injured in the stampede.
The events that took place at the Halloween celebration last night in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, shook the country. While the loss of life rose to 153 and more than 80 people were injured, it was stated that the majority of those who lost their lives were young people in their 20s.
Seoul city government announced that it had received 355 reports of missing persons related to the incident. After the incident, families are trying to learn the fate of their children and relatives, whom they have not heard from, in tears. Authorities are also making great efforts to identify the victims and reach their families.
Choi Cheon-sik, an official from the National Fire Service, stated that they thought the stampede occurred as a result of the crowd pushing the crowd in the narrow street where the entertainment venues are located.
According to some reports in the national media, the stampede occurred as crowds flocked to the Itaewon entertainment venue with rumors of an unidentified celebrity arriving. On the other hand, allegations about the distribution of candies containing narcotic drugs spread on social media.
It is estimated that around 100 people attended the Halloween celebrations in Itaewon in central Seoul.
LIFE BODY LAUNCHED ON THE ROAD
In the images reflected on the social media, it is seen that after the stampede, dozens of people lay dead on the ground and the emergency service workers and other people gave them CPR. In the images, it was observed that there were lifeless bodies lying side by side on the ground with their heads covered, while the horror of the moments of stampede was revealed in the live broadcasts of the participants of the celebration from their social media accounts.
Eyewitnesses reported that a large crowd suddenly poured into the 4 meter wide street, and those in the front fell and piled on top of each other under the pressure of those behind.
The incident was the deadliest disaster in South Korea since 2014 young people lost their lives when the ferry carrying high school students on a school trip in 304 sank.
PRESIDENT DECLARES NATIONAL MORNING
President Yoon Suk-yeol, at the emergency meetings he held right after the incident, instructed the immediate dispatch of first aid workers at the scene and the treatment of the injured. Yoon also requested a judicial investigation into the incident. Addressing the public on television, Yoon declared "national mourning," adding, "This tragedy and disaster should never have happened." said.
“NO TURKISH CITIZENS DEATH OR INJURED IN THE STRUCTURE”
In the statement made on the social media accounts of the Turkish Embassy in Seoul, it was stated that the embassy quickly contacted the authorities and hospitals in order to obtain information about the situation of Turkish citizens who may have been affected by the stampede.
In the statement, the following was noted: “At this stage, there is information that our citizens are not among those who died or were injured. However, our citizens, who could not reach their relatives in Korea after this tragic event, are kindly requested to contact our embassy urgently via the phone number +82 10 3780 1266 or the e-mail address embassy.seoul@mfa.gov.tr.”
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