151 Dead in Halloween Stampede in Seoul’s Itaewon Neighborhood
An evening of Halloween fun turned to tragedy in South Korea's capital late Saturday, when at least 151 people were killed during a stampede in a popular party district.
Officials said 82 people were also injured in the incident in Seoul's Itaewon area, which had been packed with crowds ahead of the Monday holiday.
It is the deadliest mass crushing incident in South Korea's history. Officials say most of the victims were young people in their teens and twenties.
It was not immediately clear what sparked the stampede, which started in a narrow alleyway lined with clubs.
The Itaewon area, located in central Seoul, is filled with nightclubs and bars that are popular with expatriates and locals.
The district was packed with partygoers celebrating Halloween, which typically attracts Itaewon's largest and most lively crowds of the year. Crowds were especially large this year, since it is the first Halloween after COVID-19 social distancing restrictions were released. Local media estimated about 100,000 people had gathered in the area.
