CNN
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South Korean authorities had been on Sunday investigating the gang surge that killed no less than 154 partygoers in Seoul, because the rattled nation makes an attempt to come back to phrases with one in all its worst-ever disasters.
The nation has begun a week-long interval of mourning whereas officers try to grasp how the devastating crush happened.
At the least 26 international nationals, together with two US residents, are among the many lifeless. Greater than a dozen embassies across the globe have confirmed victims from their nation.
What triggered Saturday’s surge is unclear, however witnesses say partygoers had been packed tightly into slim streets within the capital’s nightlife district of Itaewon, as folks loved the primary Halloween weekend since Covid-19 restrictions had been lifted.
Almost the entire victims – no less than 150 – have been recognized; police informed CNN. The toll included 56 males and 97 girls, South Korea’s Inside and Security Ministry reported.
As of 5 p.m. native time Sunday (4 a.m. ET), the variety of folks injured had risen to 133, of whom 37 had been severely injured, the ministry mentioned.
“There have been rows and rows of individuals with tarps protecting them on the street,” Emily Farmer, a 27-year-old English trainer in Seoul who was passing by Itaewon, informed CNN.
Farmer and her buddies had been “overwhelmed” by the crowds on the road and determined to enter a bar. Shortly after, rumors began spreading that any individual had died and patrons weren’t allowed to go away. Farmer mentioned she obtained an emergency message from the federal government alerting them to “a harmful state of affairs within the space,” and later was allowed to go away the bar, when she found the size of the tragedy.
“It was horrible,” she mentioned. “Not everybody died immediately.” Teams of individuals had been crying, she added. Many victims had been receiving CPR and had their costumes taken off to permit medics on the scene to resuscitate them. “They had been nonetheless pulling folks (out) as a result of it was so crowded,” she added.
One other eyewitness, Sung Sehyun, informed CNN that the road house was like a “jammed subway” on Saturday night, with Halloween partygoers packed so tightly that it was tough to maneuver round.
Suah Cho added that folks had began to push and shove, and there was loads of screaming. She finally managed to take a detour and fled to security however had seen folks climbing buildings to outlive. She added that the costumes folks had been carrying added to the confusion; “there was additionally a police officer screaming however we couldn’t actually inform (if it) was an actual police officer as a result of so many individuals had been carrying costumes.”
Witnesses informed CNN there was little or no – if any – crowd management earlier than the mass of individuals turned lethal.
Movies and images posted to social media present folks crammed collectively, standing shoulder to shoulder within the slim avenue.
Crowds usually are not uncommon for that space, or for Seoul residents, who’re used to jam-packed subways and streets in a metropolis of just about 10 million.
After the primary emergency calls got here in round 10:24 p.m., authorities rushed to the scene – however the sheer quantity of individuals made it tough to succeed in those that wanted assist. Video posted to social media confirmed folks performing compressions on different partygoers mendacity on the bottom as they waited for medical help.
Numerous international locations, together with the US, China, Iran, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Japan, Australia, Norway and France, have confirmed that their nationals had been among the many victims.
Three South Korean navy personnel had been additionally amongst these killed, a Korean protection ministry official informed CNN.
The South Korean authorities has set a nationwide mourning interval beginning till the top of November 5, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo mentioned in a briefing.
In the course of the mourning interval, all public establishments and diplomatic places of work will fly flags at half employees, Han mentioned, including that each one non-urgent occasions shall be postponed.
Civil servants and workers of public establishments will put on ribbons to precise their condolences in the course of the mourning interval, Han mentioned.