At least 146 people have died after a stampede in South Korea’s capital, Seoul, according to local fire authorities.
The victims were crushed by a large crowd advancing on a narrow street during Halloween festivities near the Hamilton Hotel in the Itaewon area.
Images on social media showed many victims lying on the pavement as emergency workers and bystanders performed CPR to try to revive them.
Choi Seong-beom, chief of Seoul’s Yongsan Fire Department, said the death toll could rise, with 150 people injured and some of them in critical condition in hospital.
Most of the bodies have been taken to hospitals, while the rest are being taken to a nearby gym so they can be identified, he added.
Image: Image: AP
More than 800 emergency responders were deployed to the streets to treat the injured, including all available personnel in Seoul.
It is not clear what caused the crowd to swell, although some local media reports said that a large number of people had rushed to the area after learning that an unidentified celebrity was there.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was visiting Europe but decided to return home after the news.
Image: Image: AP
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol chaired an emergency meeting after the stampede.
He said in a statement that officials should ensure prompt treatment for the injured and that the security of festive venues should be reviewed.
Local media said around 100,000 people headed to Itaewon for Halloween parties, which were the biggest in years after the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in recent months.