59 people died, more than 150 were injured in a crash on Halloween in South Korea
Seoul: About 50 people are being resuscitated after suffering cardiac arrest in Seoul’s Itaewon district as huge crowds of people flock to Halloween parties, according to fire officials.
Emergency workers received at least 81 calls from people in Itaewon who said they were having difficulty breathing, Yonhap news agency reported.
The scuffle happened near the Hamilton Hotel in the Itaewon nightlife area as a large number of people are believed to have entered a narrow alley near the hotel.
President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is leading an emergency meeting on the stampede, ordered officials to quickly administer first aid and treat the injured, the presidential office said.
Yoon also ordered officials to deploy emergency medical personnel to Itaewon and provide emergency beds.
Separately, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo instructed officials to make maximum efforts to minimize damage.
Meanwhile, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is visiting Europe, decided to return home after the incident, city officials said.
A total of 142 fire engines were mobilized for the area.
Including about 50 people who went into cardiac arrest, fire officials estimate about 100 people were injured.
As of about 1 a.m. Sunday (local time), a total of 21 people, mostly women in their 20s, had been sent to emergency rooms, officials said.
Dozens of people have reportedly suffered mysterious cardiac arrest symptoms during Halloween celebrations in Seoul, South Korea. pic.twitter.com/qCCgzxeZzW
— Frida Ghitis (@FridaGhitis) October 29, 2022
(IANS)