image source, Reuters
A man pays tribute to the victims near the site of the tragedy during Halloween in Seoul.
At least 150 people died Saturday night when thousands of young people celebrating Halloween crowded the narrow streets of a popular neighborhood in central Seoul. The BBC analyzes how the tragedy happened.
On Saturday afternoon, thousands of young people gathered in the center of the South Korean capital’s Itaewon, a lively party spot whose bustling streets and alleys are lined with bars and restaurants.
According to some accounts, 100,000 people flocked to the area to celebrate Halloween, excited by the prospect of partying again after two years of strict Covid restrictions in the country.
32-year-old Nuhail Ahmed was in the crowd. This IT worker from India lives nearby and has been attending Halloween parties in Itaewon for five consecutive years.
Last year’s celebrations were lively, but police prevented people from entering crowded areas. This year things were very different, he said.
“It’s crazy,” he told the BBC. “From 5 p.m. the streets were crowded. So I thought, how about after seven or eight?”
Nuhil Ahmed left the meeting.
At that time, there were reports on social networks that people were on the streets of the district They were so crowded that they felt unsafe.
Ahmad and a group of friends spent the afternoon in Itaewon, a narrow, sloping alley off the main street of the district that was to become the epicenter of the tragedy.
“We always go down this alley,” he commented. “I don’t know why, but there are always nice bars and people in costumes.”
By 11pm it was clear that something was wrong, and a worried Ahmed found himself in the middle of a huge crowd.
“People started pushing from behind, it was like a wave, nothing could be done,” he recalled. “Even though you were standing, someone was pushing you from behind.”
Ahmed fell to the ground, but managed to climb a few steps to the side of the alley and onto the crowd.
The situation worsened around 10:20 pm local time (1:20 pm GMT). There was a lot of commotion as many people on the slope fell down. The crowd from both ends of the narrow street made it impossible for anyone to get out.
“People were gasping, screaming…crowded…falling…there were a lot of people”said the 32-year-old.
“I was watching everything, people taking their last breaths… I felt helpless watching those people suffocate.”
“We couldn’t do anything, that was the main shock.”
Ana, a 24-year-old Spaniard, was in the area with her friend Melissa, a 19-year-old German. The couple were in a bar and trying to leave at 23:00 local time (14:00 GMT) when they saw ambulances entering the alley and police telling people to move to carry bodies and injured people.
“There were a lot of people who wanted laymen to do CPR. So All over the world He is gone to helpAna told the BBC.
He also said two friends who knew how to do CPR came to help, but some died at their hands.
Ana followed her instructions and went to help.
“They told me how to hold the head and open the mouth, and I tried to help, but they were dead too. The people they brought in to do CPR, most of them had to say no. You can’t do anything because they’re not breathing anymore.”
“We couldn’t do anything, that was the main shock.”he added.
image source, Good pictures
His words echoed numerous videos recorded at the scene, in which dozens of people could be seen trying to perform CPR on corpses lining the street.
A BBC reporter at the scene said they saw several ambulances, thousands of people and many bodies covered in blue sheets. Ambulances struggled to get through the crowd.
Officials say
As is usually the case with such a swift tragedy, news of what happened was trickling out.
Initial reports said 50 people had suffered heart attacks – a common cause of death during a conflict – but grim photos of body bags littering the streets made it clear it was a huge tragedy.
The first confirmed death toll was released at 02:30 local time (17:30 GMT). Officials said 59 people were killed and 150 injured. An hour later, the toll rose to 120 and 100 injured, rising further as the night progressed. Reaching 150 soon.
Hours after the tragedy, Ahmed said residents were still partying and music was still being heard in some bars and clubs in the area. It is unclear whether these stores and their customers were aware of the seriousness of what was happening around them.
image source, Good pictures
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife, Kim Geun-hee, laid flowers at an altar in memory of the victims.
Within hours of the tragedy, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called an emergency meeting and announced an investigation into the cause of the crash. On Sunday morning, he declared a period of national mourning.
“My heart is heavy and it’s hard for me to bear my pain,” he said, adding that he felt a “responsibility for people’s lives and safety.”
image source, Good pictures
Officials are investigating the cause of the tragedy in the alley.
On Sunday afternoons, the area around Itaewon is usually a hive of activity, but many shops, restaurants and cafes were closed the day after the tragedy, and the area’s main street was cordoned off. A local resident told the BBC he was shocked to see body bags strewn on the street.
As the country grapples with tragedy, the focus will inevitably be on safety regulations and crowd control measures. People will wonder if more could have been done to prevent this tragedy.
Remember that You can get updates from BBC World. Download the latest version of our app and activate it so you never miss our best content.
“Wannabe web geek. Alcohol expert. Certified introvert. Zombie evangelist. Twitter trailblazer. Communicator. Incurable tv scholar.”
More Stories
5 things you need to know this April 18
A woman has been arrested for taking a dead body to a bank in Brazil
Who is Truong My Lan, the real estate magnate who was sentenced to death in Vietnam?