<Anchor> When
the accident occurred, rescue calls flooded 119.
However, due to the crowds and traffic jams, it was not possible to dispatch rescue teams to the scene or transport patients in time.
This news is reported by Hwa Gang-yun, a reporter.
<Reporter>
The 119th ambulance that arrived at the intersection of Noksapyeong Station at the entrance of Itaewon at 10:18, three minutes after 10:15 p.m. the day the first report was received from Itaewon (29th), was stuck in traffic and could not move.
[Kim Geon-hoo / Witness: (Itaewon-ro) has two lanes, but even with the siren on, there is no space for cars to get out of.] The
road is full of cars and illegally parked cars on the street, so going back to another road It wasn't good enough.
[Move the vehicle, go further.]
It was after 11 pm when the police took control of Itaewon-ro and secured an ambulance access road.
As a number of life-threatening patients occurred simultaneously, we had to rescue them within the 'golden time', but the road was blocked and they could not use their hands.
[Fire officials: The other mobilization units are unable to approach there, even though it is not far away, because the vehicle is clogged and a large number of people are pouring in.]
[Eyewitness: Only a few police officers, only a few from the fire station, It's
frustrating.]
It wasn't easy to get to the accident site through the crowds.
Even the police and firefighters mistakenly thought they were people in disguise to enjoy Halloween, so they didn't get out of the way in an emergency.
[Witness: (Police/firefighter) They pass by and people say, 'Is that real?'
I'm talking like this.
Everyone knew they were wearing Halloween costumes, whether it was the police or whoever came.
So people didn’t even get out of it.]
To prevent this difficult situation, if a non-police person wears a police uniform or similar clothing, he or she will be punished by imprisonment for not more than 6 months or a fine not exceeding 3 million won, but few people know this. There was none.