South Korea: Emergency response ongoing in Itaewon after stampede leaves at least 146 dead and dozens injured late Oct. 29 /update 3

Event

As of early Oct. 30, emergency service personnel are continuing their response to a stampede that occurred at a Halloween event in the Itaewon entertainment district in central Seoul, late Oct. 29. At least 146 people have died, and over 150 others have been injured. Authorities have stated that the death toll could rise. While the exact cause of the incident remains under investigation, local media reports indicate that the stampede occurred when a massive crowd of people began moving toward a bar on a narrow street in the area following reports of a celebrity sighting.

Some 850 emergency responders have deployed to the site. Authorities have asked all related ministries and agencies to provide aid to the victims. Hospitals in the city have been advised to arrange additional beds to care for the injured.

Officials will almost certainly maintain a heightened security presence in the area over the coming hours. Localized ground travel and business delays are likely to persist for the duration of the response.

Advice

Avoid the area until the situation stabilizes and authorities give the all-clear. Exercise caution near the incident site and plan for localized ground transport disruptions through at least the afternoon of Oct. 31. Heed instructions of authorities.