153 killed in stampede in South Korea during Halloween celebrations
South Korean President Yun Seok-yeol vowed Sunday to conduct an "in-depth" investigation into a stampede that killed at least 153 people Saturday night in Seoul, as tens of thousands of mostly young people thronged narrow streets to celebrate Halloween for the first time after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yun lamented "a tragedy and disaster that should not have occurred," declaring national mourning.
He promised that his government would conduct an "in-depth" investigation to determine the causes of the tragedy, which is one of the most serious disasters in the history of South Korea, and ensure that it "will not be repeated."
In a televised address, the president, who went to the scene on Sunday morning wearing a green ambulance, said, "My heart is heavy and it is difficult for me to contain my grief."
Dozens of corpses were scattered on the sidewalk, covered with sheets.
Passers-by on the street tried to revive the wounded at the request of the busy ambulance crews.
The accident occurred Saturday near the Hamilton Hotel, which is located on a main street surrounded by steep alleys.
The Ministry of Interior said that the stampede, whose cause is not yet known, left at least 153 people dead, including 20 foreigners of different nationalities.
She added that the disaster resulted in the injury of 134 others.
The ministry stated that most of the victims were girls in their twenties.
According to the authorities in Seoul, 2,642 people were reported missing.
Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news