At least 151 killed in Seoul Halloween crowd surge
By Heather Chen, Adrienne Vogt, Matt Meyer, Sophie Jeong, Gawon Bae, Andrew Raine and Rob Picheta, CNN
Updated 7:59 AM ET, Sun October 30, 2022.
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At least 151 killed in Seoul Halloween crowd surge What we’re covering
At least 153 people were killed and dozens more hurt in an apparent crowd surge at packed Halloween festivities in the South Korean capital of Seoul, local officials say.
Nineteen foreign nationals are among the dead. The victims include people from Iran, Norway, China and Uzbekistan
The crush took place in the nightlife district of Itaewon. What caused the crush is not clear, but witnesses say partygoers had been packed tightly in the district’s narrow streets and it was difficult to move around.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has declared a period of national mourning.
7:37 a.m. ET, October 30, 2022
Three South Korean military personnel among those killed in Seoul crowd surge
From CNN’s Gawon Bae
Three South Korean military personnel are among those killed in an apparent crowd surge at the popular Seoul nightclub district Itaewon Saturday night, a Korean defense ministry official told CNN on Sunday.
Four other South Korean military personnel were injured in the incident and are being treated in hospital, the official added.
The official did not provide any further information.
It has also been confirmed that the dead includes one Norwegian and one Sri Lankan national, as well as two Japanese victims.
6:48 a.m. ET, October 30, 2022
56 men and 97 women among those killed in Seoul crowd surge
From CNN’s Gawon Bae in Seoul
Among the 153 killed in Saturday’s apparent crowd surge at Seoul’s popular nightclub district Itaewon were 56 men and 97 women, South Korea’s Interior and Safety Ministry reported Sunday.
Four victims were teenagers, 95 people were in their 20s, 32 people in their 30s, nine in their 40s and 13 have yet to be identified, the ministry said.
As of 5 p.m. local time Sunday (4 a.m. ET), the number of people injured has risen to 133, of whom 37 are seriously injured, the ministry said.
6:27 a.m. ET, October 30, 2022
Nearly all of the people confirmed dead have been identified, police say
From CNN’s In Jeong Kim
South Korean police officers stand guard at the scene in Seoul on Sunday. Lee Jin-man/AP
Seoul Metropolitan Police said they have confirmed the identities of nearly all those killed in an apparent crowd surge at Seoul’s popular nightclub district Itaewon on Saturday.
The identities of 150 people killed have been confirmed, police told CNN on Sunday. The death toll from the disaster stands at 153.
The three bodies who have yet to be identified are all young women whose nationalities have yet to be verified, they added.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government had said they had received 4,024 missing persons reports as of 5 p.m. local time (4 a.m. ET), though some of these reports could relate to the same people.
Police said there is no active search for those reported missing as they believe no one went missing from the scene. They said thousands of missing person reports have been used to help identify those killed in the incident.
Four Iranians among the dead: Four Iranians are among those killed in an apparent crowd surge at the popular Seoul nightclub district Itaewon Saturday night, Iran’s Embassy in Seoul confirmed, according to the semiofficial Iran Student News Agency (ISNA).
Two of the deceased have been identified in Seoul hospitals and two are located in hospitals outside of Seoul, the report said.
5:13 a.m. ET, October 30, 2022
Australian among dead in Seoul disaster
An Australian was among those killed in the crush at Seoul’s popular nightclub district Itaewon on Saturday night, according to the government in Canberra.
“Consular officers from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) are providing consular assistance to the individual’s family in Australia,” a DFAT statement read.
The Australian Embassy in Seoul is “assisting a number of other Australians who were present at the event,” according to a DFAT spokesperson.
“The Australian Government sends its condolences to the family and others affected by this tragic incident. We ask for the family’s privacy to be respected during this difficult time. Owing to our privacy obligations, we are unable to provide further comment,” the statement read.
Death toll rises: The death toll from the disaster in Seoul’s Itaewon nightclub district has meanwhile risen by two to 153, according to the country’s Ministry of Interior and Safety.
Among the 153 dead were 20 foreign nationals, according to the ministry.
4:18 a.m. ET, October 30, 2022
Four Chinese nationals among the dead
Four Chinese nationals were among the 151 people killed during Halloween festivities in Seoul, with two others suffering minor injuries, Chinese state news agency Xinhua has reported.
Nineteen foreign nationals in total are among the dead, including people from Iran, Norway and Uzbekistan.
Shortly after reports of the incident emerged, the Chinese embassy in Seoul contacted South Korean officials and monitored social media networks to see if any Chinese citizens needed assistance, Xinhua said.
It added that it would provide help to victims’ families and has offered its condolences.
4:22 a.m. ET, October 30, 2022
What we know about the Halloween disaster in Seoul
CNN’s Sophie Jeong, Gawon Bae, Paula Hancocks, Hilary Whiteman and Jessie Yeung
On Saturday night, tens of thousands of people flooded into the streets of the Itaewon neighborhood in Seoul to celebrate Halloween.
But as the night went on, panic erupted as the crowds swelled. What exactly caused the crush still isn’t clear, but witnesses say partygoers had been packed tightly in the district’s narrow streets and it was difficult to move around.
As of Sunday afternoon, 151 people have been killed — making it one of the country’s worst disasters.
Here’s a recap of what else we know so far.
5:10 a.m. ET, October 30, 2022
“People were still partying on the streets, oblivious to what was happening,” eyewitness says
CNN’s Teele Rebane
Emergency personnel work at the scene at the popular Itaewon district in Seoul on October 30. Yonhap News/Reuters
An English teacher in Seoul who was passing through Itaewon on Saturday night recounted what she saw to CNN.
“There were rows and rows of people with tarps covering them in the street,” said Emily Farmer, 27.
Farmer, who was with two friends, said she did not see any crowd control measures in place in the area.
The tragedy has killed at least 151 people and left dozens more hurt. Nineteen foreign nationals, from Iran, Norway, China and Uzbekistan, are also among the dead.
Farmer and her friends were “overwhelmed” by the crowds on the street and decided to enter a bar.
Shortly after, rumors started spreading that somebody had died and patrons were not allowed to leave. Farmer said she received an emergency message from the government alerting them to “a dangerous situation in the area.”
She was allowed to leave the bar at around midnight and she learned of the tragedy that had taken place just outside.
“It was horrible,” she said. “Not everyone died instantly.”
“They were still pulling people (out) because it was so crowded,” she added.
There were also people still partying on the streets, essentially oblivious to what was happening.”
Groups of people were crying, she added. Many victims were receiving CPR and had their costumes taken off to allow medics at the scene to resuscitate them.
She still hasn’t heard back from two acquaintances in the area who she messaged last night. “I’m still in shock. It was obviously very traumatic,” she added.
5:10 a.m. ET, October 30, 2022
Itaewon human crush “not a problem that could have been solved in advance,” South Korean minister says
Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Interior and Safety speaks during a press conference at the government complex in Seoul on Thursday, Oct. 6. Kim Seung-doo/Yonhap/AP
The human crush at Itaewon was “not a problem that could have been solved in advance,” South Korea’s Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min said on Sunday.
“We understand that it was not a problem that could have been solved by deploying police or firefighters in advance,” Lee said.
He added that there had been “various disturbances and demonstrations” in other parts of Seoul on Saturday.
“It was expected that many citizens would gather so a considerable number of police and security forces were deployed to Gwanhwanmun (another area of Seoul),” he said.
However, in Itaewon, the crowd had not been unusually large, he said, so only a “normal” level of security forces had been deployed there.
Speaking before the minister’s comments, Juliette Kayyem, a disaster management expert and national security analyst for CNN, had said it was hard to pinpoint what might have triggered the crush, but that authorities would have “anticipated high numbers” in the area.
“There is a responsibility on the part of the authorities to be monitoring crowd volume in real time, so they can sense the need to get people out,” Kayyem said.
3:41 a.m. ET, October 30, 2022
Leaders from across Asia offer condolences
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on October 28. Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
More world leaders have offered their condolences and messages of support following the South Korean tragedy that killed 151 people.
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee expressed “sadness and profound sorrow” and extended his “deepest condolences” to families of the victims.
“The government will pay close attention to the incident,” he added. “I have asked the Security Bureau to monitor its development and stand ready to render assistance to any Hong Kong residents that may need assistance.”
Taiwan grieves with Korea at this difficult time,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan said in a statement on Twitter.
“Our deepest condolences on the loss of life and injuries in the Itaewon incident. Thoughts and prayers to the families of the victims, and heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded,” it added.
Japan, which historically has had a rocky relationship with South Korea, also sent a message of support and “solidarity.”
“On behalf of the government and people of Japan, I would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the victims and their bereaved families, and our prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said.
“I am deeply shocked and saddened by the loss of many precious lives, including young people with a bright future, as a result of the very tragic accident that occurred in Itaewon, Seoul.”
“I would like to reiterate my solidarity with your government and the people of Korea at this difficult time,” he added.
US President Joe Biden, as well as leaders from around Europe, have also offered their condolences.
