As of noon local time on October 30th, according to the news from the fire department of South Korea, 151 people were killed and 82 injured in the stampede accident in itaewon business district of Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Among them, four China citizens have been confirmed killed in the accident, and two others were injured. In addition, foreigners from Iran, Uzbekistan and Norway died.
At present, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has also received more than 350 reports of missing persons, which are being gradually verified. Yonhap News Agency quoted witnesses as saying that in the previous night’s tragedy, the dense crowd was layered on top of each other, "like a grave". Some people gradually lost consciousness, and some people died in the crowded crowd.
"Desperate business circle"
Yang Cheng, an international student from China who participated in the activity in itaewon that night, just celebrated his 20th birthday. After the tragedy of trampling, he stayed up all night. He told China Newsweek that he "always heard cries for help and the sound of ambulances."
Screenshot of related reports in Yonhap News Agency
The tragedy took place in an alley on the west side of Hamilton Hotel in itaewon, Seoul. This is the core area of itaewon business district, one of the "Eight Business Districts in Seoul", with itaewon subway station on the south side and bars densely distributed in the surrounding lanes.
In Yang Cheng’s memory, last year’s Halloween activities in itaewon were particularly good, when everyone wore masks. In April 2022, after the Korean government lifted the restriction of social alienation, more and more young people returned to itaewon. According to the latest statistics released by Korea Economic Daily on October 21st, since April, the offline consumption here has "surged every month", among which young consumers in their twenties are the main force contributing to the growth. On October 29th, 100,000 people gathered here to celebrate the first Halloween without masks in three years.
At 8 o’clock in the evening, witness Wang entered the street of itaewon. In an interview with the media, Wang recalled that it was not very crowded at first, but he could walk normally. "I took my friends and walked side by side, but it gradually became congested." Then, Wang felt a sharp squeeze.
Yang Cheng and his friends arrived at the scene around 9: 30 pm, when it was already "extremely crowded, pushed away by people, and the scene was constantly swearing". Feeling a little chest tightness, he decided to get out of the main street ahead of time, and it was not long before he walked to another street when he heard the sound of an ambulance.
How did the change from congestion to "overcrowding" happen? According to Yonhap News Agency, it is said that the crowd began to rush to a place because of the rumor that "a celebrity went to a bar" at the scene. Another rumor is that a club distributed candy mixed with drugs, but Seoul police said that there is no evidence that the incident was related to drugs. Another video circulating on social media shows that there were quarrels and physical conflicts in the streets before the stampede.
What is basically certain is that at about 10 o’clock that night, someone fell down in the alley next to Hamilton Hotel, and the people behind them "fell down one by one and squeezed layer by layer". The data show that when the crowd density is more than 4-5 people per square meter, the pressure between people will lead to the "domino fall effect"; If the density reaches 9 people per square meter, squeezing itself may cause oppressive suffocation.
Itaewon business district has always been famous for its high-drop back streets and alleys. Shopping here is "either climbing a hill or going up and down stairs". Some scholars have pointed out that in this "alley business circle", "the integrity and authenticity brought by barbaric growth are its core competitiveness". However, the tragedy from crowding to trampling on the evening of October 29 shows the other side of this business circle.
Miss the best rescue opportunity
Under the "push" of the crowd behind him, Wang was also squeezed into the incident alley. "Especially at the downhill corner where the accident happened in the video now, it is the most intense place. I have stumbled many times and stepped on unknown objects and other people’s feet many times. Fortunately, I took my friend and two people squeezed out smoothly." Wang said. Others are not so lucky. Witnesses also said that when she walked near the scene of the incident in the early morning, "I saw a row of people covered with cloth on the ground." South Korean media said that most of the victims were young women.
After the accident, itaewon started traffic control and personnel control, and more than 800 rescuers rushed to the scene. However, witnesses pointed out that in fact, the crowd was not evacuated, and "there were a lot of people watching the fun." Yang Cheng’s friend told him that there were many people shouting for help at the scene, but it was very chaotic. Even if you want to pull people out, it will take at least ten minutes.
Some people in the medical field said that the best time to rescue asphyxia caused by squeezing is "within 10 minutes". Considering the actual congestion situation in itaewon, it is difficult for rescuers to get close to the victims in the best time.
When you find a crowded crowd coming in the direction you are walking, you should immediately avoid it and don’t run to avoid falling. If there are shops, cafes and other places on the roadside that can be temporarily avoided, you can temporarily avoid it. But according to Yonhap News Agency, witnesses pointed out that when someone tried to escape from the nearest nightclub, the owner from ruin refused to open the door. Seoul police said that they will soon investigate whether bars and clubs in the area comply with safety regulations.
"The Oval Office will lead the investigation."
After the tragedy in itaewon, many leaders, including US President Biden, expressed their condolences to the ROK. South Korean President Yin Xiyue said in a speech on October 30th that the disaster "should not have happened". He said that the period from today to the end of the aftermath is a national mourning period, and the focus of governance is to carry out the aftermath of the accident and take follow-up measures. Later, he did not answer the reporter’s question and hurried to the scene of the accident in itaewon.
Prior to this, Yin Xiyue had presided over two emergency meetings to deploy emergency medical officials to itaewon and ensure emergency beds. After the sinking of the Shiyue in April 2014, which killed more than 300 people, then South Korean President park geun-hye did not immediately take the seat to direct the rescue and investigation, which caused widespread criticism from public opinion. This time, the Korean media generally believe that there is no obvious problem with Yin Xiyue’s performance.
Kwon Ki-sik, chairman of the Korea-China Friendship City Association, who used to be the director of Cheongwadae’s State Administration Operation Office, told China Newsweek that generally speaking, the investigation department of such urban safety accidents is the police department, but "this accident is very serious, so the investigation will be led by the President’s Office, and it will take some time to reach a conclusion". Yin Xiyue has said that the cause of the accident will be thoroughly investigated, so that similar accidents will not happen again in the future, and instructed the administrative security department and other relevant departments to carry out emergency inspections on celebrations and other activities in various places.
The most tragic stampede accident in human history occurred in Mecca in 1990, and 1426 pilgrims were killed by trampling or suffocation. On October 1, 2022, a football match in Indonesia became one of the most serious trampling tragedies in football history, killing 132 people and injuring 583 others. The itaewon tragedy is also the second serious stampede accident in the world within one month.
At present, Halloween celebrations have been cancelled in many places in South Korea.
(At the request of the interviewee, Yang Cheng is a pseudonym in the text)
Reporter: Cao Ran Zheng Liying