DEADLY crush left at least 153 dead as Halloween fans tried to push down an alleyway only 12 feet wide.
On Saturday night, chaos broke out in Seoul, South Korea as more than 100,000 people flooded into Itaewon, a popular party district.
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These chilling photos show the area packed with party-goers, barely moving for several moments before the stampede.
Many young adults and teens were eager to experience the first Halloween celebrations without restrictions in three years after the Covid regulations were lifted.
They were instead caught up in a panicked stampede after the festivities attracted so many people.
Witnesses claim that the crowd became more crowded. “unruly and agitated”As the evening progressed.
The situation quickly spiraled out of control just before 10.20pm when people began to crowd the narrow, sloped alleyway that was already crowded wall-to-wall.
People pushed and shoved to get to the top of the 147ft-long pathway, causing those below them to fall, causing others to tumble over them.
Panicked revellers tried desperately to escape the crush, while others became trapped and struggled for breath before falling into cardiac arrest.
Some people tried to climb the walls of buildings to escape increasing pressure. Others desperately called for help.
One witness described how the bodies were piled up looking like a pile of sand. “tomb”.
Officials believe the huge crowd may have begun pushing forward in the alleyway that connects to a street filled with clubs and bars upon hearing rumours a local celebrity was close by.
The horror unfolded just 320ft away from the nearest fire station. However, emergency workers faced a struggle to reach victims due to traffic congestion and crowding.
Video shared online showed a pile containing bodies wedged between buildings. Some appeared unconscious, while others reached out for medics to help them escape the crushing.
While field hospitals were being set up to handle hundreds of casualties and rescuers tried to drag people from beneath dead bodies, they were also filmed.
To stay warm, survivors were also seen being piled on the sidewalk wrapped in foil blankets.
Police said scores were being given CPR on the streets while many others were taken to nearby hospitals.
Tragically, at the least 153 people were killed in the attack. Another 82 were hurt.
According to authorities, 22 foreigners were killed in the incident. They came from China, Iran and Russia, France.
As hundreds filed missing persons reports, stressed families called the authorities desperate for information.
One father received a heartbreaking phone call at 1am from authorities confirming that his daughter, who was in her 20s, had been murdered.
He stated to Reuters: “This news came like a bolt from the blue sky.”
Lee Sangmin, Interior Ministry Lee, said that at least 90 percent of the victims had been identified by midday. There were some delays with identification of teenagers and nationals from other countries.
“A TRAGEDY and DISASTER”
The aftermath shows costumes and personal effects covered in blood.
However, warning signs were already present 24 hours earlier that the celebrations were attracting dangerously large numbers of people.
Victims and their loved ones had questions about an apparent lack in crowd control.
Park Jung-hoon (21), told Reuters that he was on the scene. “You would see big crowds at Christmas and fireworks but this was several ten-folds bigger than any of that.”
In April, the Covid pandemic was eased and curfews lifted on bars and restaurants. A limit of ten persons for private gatherings was also lifted. In May, an outdoor mask mandate was removed.
Professor Lee Youngju of the Department of Fire and Disaster at Seoul University said that the catastrophe could have been avoided. “prevented or controlled”.
He stated to broadcaster YTN that district events held by local government or institutions must have safety plans and measures if more then 1,000 people are expected.
“But, this was a local event without an organiser specific to it, and lacking safety control functions.
“This was a catastrophe that could have been prevented or controlled.
“But this was not taken care of, with no one taking the responsibility in the first place.”
South Korean mobile and tech companies, including Kakao and NCSOFT, pulled their Halloween promotions after the incident.
Everland amusement park cancelled all Halloween-themed events.
Many regional governments have cut back on festivals and other celebrations or reduced their participation.
Family members and friends of victims are left with floral tributes.
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol declared Sunday a national mourning period, describing the crush in his country as “truly tragic”.
He stated: “A tragedy and disaster that should not have happened took place in the heart of Seoul last night.”
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