‘Hazardous death toll’ in Seoul after stampede during Halloween festival

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Dozens of people suffered cardiac arrest and a number are feared dead after a stampede at a Halloween festival in South Korea, officials said.

Dozens were crushed by a large crowd pushing through a narrow street during Halloween celebrations in Seoul on Saturday, according to local reports.

About 50 were being treated for cardiac arrest as of early Sunday, reports said.

Choi Cheon-sik, an official from the national firefighting agency, said about 100 people were injured during Saturday night’s stampede in the entertainment district of Itaewon. He did not give a specific number of people treated for cardiac arrest, but said they numbered in the dozens.

Mr Choi said the people were believed to have been crushed to death after a large crowd began pushing forward in a narrow alley near the Hamilton Hotel, a major party spot in Seoul.

Police said dozens of people were receiving CPR on the streets of Itaewon, while many others were taken to nearby hospitals.

A local police official said he was also informed that there was a stampede on the streets of Itaewon, where a crowd of people had gathered for Halloween festivities. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity, saying the details of the incident were still under investigation.

Some local media earlier said the crash occurred after a large number of people rushed to the Itaewon bar after hearing an unidentified celebrity had visited there.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol issued a statement calling on officials to provide prompt treatment to the injured and review safety at holiday venues.

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