Revellers crushed to death during Halloween crowd surge in South Korea

dailyrecord.co.uk:

At least 120 revellers have died after being crushed in huge crowds during Halloween festivities in the South Korean capital of Seoul.Emergency officials said many people suffered cardiac arrest after revellers jammed narrow streets on Saturday night.

Video on social media showed first responders giving CPR to multiple victims lying in the road. Choi Cheon-sik, an official from the National Fire Agency, said dozens were reported as injured during the crowd surge in the Itaewon leisure district.Mr Choi said it was believed victims were crushed to death after a crowd began pushing forward in a narrow alley near Hamilton Hotel, a major nightlife area in the city.He said more than 400 emergency workers from around the nation, including practically all available personnel in Seoul, were deployed to the streets to treat the injured.Later South Korean officials said at least 120 people were dead.Police confirmed that dozens of people were being given CPR on Itaewon streets while many others were taken to nearby hospitals.

A local police officer said he was informed that a stampede occurred on Itaewon’s streets where a crowd of people gathered for Halloween.Some local media reports earlier said the crush happened after a large number of people rushed to an Itaewon bar after hearing an unidentified celebrity visited there.South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a statement calling for officials to ensure swift treatment for those injured and review the safety of the festivity sites.He instructed the Health Ministry to swiftly deploy disaster medical assistance teams and secure beds in nearby hospital to treat the injured. Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here. Sco