More than 150 people died in a terrible stampede at a Halloween party in Seoul. An Austrian is also among the victims.
The Halloween celebrations in a popular nightlife district of the South Korean metropolis of Seoul have culminated in an unprecedented catastrophe. At least 151 mostly young people died in a crowd on Saturday night (local time), according to the fire brigade. Another 82 visitors were injured, more than a dozen of them seriously. 19 foreigners were also among the dead. The death toll could continue to rise. President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered a thorough investigation and national mourning on Sunday morning.
As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Sunday, an Austrian also died. “It is with great dismay that we have to confirm the death of an Austrian citizen during yesterday’s stampede in Seoul,” the Foreign Ministry said in Vienna. The Austrian was visiting the South Korean capital.
“Our embassy in Seoul is in contact with the responsible authorities and relatives in Austria and will support them in all further steps,” it said. “We ask for your understanding that, out of consideration for the relatives and for reasons of data protection, we will not provide any further information on this tragic accident,” the statement concluded.
Narrow streets became traps
According to eyewitnesses, the mass disaster happened when there was extreme crowding in a narrow, gently descending alleyway in the busy Itaewon neighborhood on the eve of Halloween. For the visitors, the alley, which is not even 100 meters long, with bars and restaurants on both sides, became a trap: numerous visitors fell to the ground, while others moved up. The crowds had backed up behind.
The exact circumstances of the disaster are still unclear, the police said it would also check whether there were violations of safety regulations. According to the reports, the first reports of the accident were received by the fire brigade and police at around 10:15 p.m. local time.
