146 dead in Seoul

[cabbageandribs1875]

Halloween crush in South Korean capital kills 146 - BBC News (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-asia-63442399)

awful




146 people have died in a crush in South Korea's capital, Seoul, with another 150 injured
The accident occurred as huge crowds gathered in a popular nightlife area to celebrate Halloween

[Stairway 2 7]

Absolutely shocking. Questions need asked how it could happen

[hibsbollah]

I know the area extremely well, horrible news.

[Jones28]

Did I read rightly that it’s the first unmasked event to take place in South Korea since pre pandemic?

[hibsbollah]

Did I read rightly that it’s the first unmasked event to take place in South Korea since pre pandemic?

No, I don’t think that’s right. Probably mean just at this Halloween event. Korea has a culture of voluntary surgical mask wearing in public even pre Covid so the distinction is irrelevant, lots of people will still wear masks outside anyway.

[Lendo]

Death toll up to 151 now

[Sir David Gray]

Did I read rightly that it’s the first unmasked event to take place in South Korea since pre pandemic?

The reporting of that on the BBC is quite confusing with how it's been worded but it appears to be the first Halloween event in South Korea since rules on face masks were dropped.

The suggestion being that Halloween has become increasingly popular in South Korea in recent years but celebrations for it have been curtailed since 2020 due to Covid-19 laws.

The mandatory wearing of masks outdoors in South Korea was only dropped in May of this year, so only relatively recently, but I imagine it was long enough ago that they'll have had other non-Halloween related outdoor events without masks.

153 dead now, horrendous.

[He's here!]

Terrifying how a situation like that can escalate so rapidly with such deadly consequences.

[Pretty Boy]

I know people moan about the commercialisation of Hogmanay in Edinburgh and the ticketing of things like the street party. Something like this displays why it is necessary though.

I had a cousin at the last non ticketed street party in the late 90s (iirc) when hundreds of thousands packed in and there was crushing and a real sense of panic. He still recalls how close that night came to disaster and said it was frightening how chaotic it was with some people aware of the developing situation and others seemingly oblivious. It was the following year that the wrist band entry policy was brought in.

Such a sad thing to happen. Young folk off out for a good night and some of them not making it home. Doesn't really bear thinking about.

[ACLeith]

I know people moan about the commercialisation of Hogmanay in Edinburgh and the ticketing of things like the street party. Something like this displays why it is necessary though.

I had a cousin at the last non ticketed street party in the late 90s (iirc) when hundreds of thousands packed in and there was crushing and a real sense of panic. He still recalls how close that night came to disaster and said it was frightening how chaotic it was with some people aware of the developing situation and others seemingly oblivious. It was the following year that the wrist band entry policy was brought in.

Such a sad thing to happen. Young folk off out for a good night and some of them not making it home. Doesn't really bear thinking about.

My son and his then girlfriend had the same experience. They grabbed hold of a lamppost and held on tight. They were really scared.

[stu in nottingham]

I know people moan about the commercialisation of Hogmanay in Edinburgh and the ticketing of things like the street party. Something like this displays why it is necessary though.

I had a cousin at the last non ticketed street party in the late 90s (iirc) when hundreds of thousands packed in and there was crushing and a real sense of panic. He still recalls how close that night came to disaster and said it was frightening how chaotic it was with some people aware of the developing situation and others seemingly oblivious. It was the following year that the wrist band entry policy was brought in.

Such a sad thing to happen. Young folk off out for a good night and some of them not making it home. Doesn't really bear thinking about.

I was on Princes Street with my partner when that happened and in the middle of the crush. As I recall, it was reported that there were 400,000 in the city that night. My partner was really panicking and we managed to pull ourselves into a shop doorway and gain some respite from it. It was pretty scary, I've been in a few crushes at the football but this felt really out of control.

[gbhibby]

I know people moan about the commercialisation of Hogmanay in Edinburgh and the ticketing of things like the street party. Something like this displays why it is necessary though.

I had a cousin at the last non ticketed street party in the late 90s (iirc) when hundreds of thousands packed in and there was crushing and a real sense of panic. He still recalls how close that night came to disaster and said it was frightening how chaotic it was with some people aware of the developing situation and others seemingly oblivious. It was the following year that the wrist band entry policy was brought in.

Such a sad thing to happen. Young folk off out for a good night and some of them not making it home. Doesn't really bear thinking about.
I was up one of the side streets and late comers were trying to get onto Princes St causing a crush at the bottom of the street. Even the side streets were rammed with people.

[Keith_M]

Terrifying how a situation like that can escalate so rapidly with such deadly consequences.


:agree:


There was a similar incident at a festival in Germany a few years back and there was around 20 people dead and well over 500 injured.

It seemed like the whole country was in shock at the time and some of the council staff responsible for safety, etc, were prosecuted but I think they failed to establish culpability.

The festival organiser was (naturally) really upset and, although the festival had been going on for a number of years, he decided to call it a day.

[BroxburnHibee]

I know people moan about the commercialisation of Hogmanay in Edinburgh and the ticketing of things like the street party. Something like this displays why it is necessary though.

I had a cousin at the last non ticketed street party in the late 90s (iirc) when hundreds of thousands packed in and there was crushing and a real sense of panic. He still recalls how close that night came to disaster and said it was frightening how chaotic it was with some people aware of the developing situation and others seemingly oblivious. It was the following year that the wrist band entry policy was brought in.

Such a sad thing to happen. Young folk off out for a good night and some of them not making it home. Doesn't really bear thinking about.

Yep I was there that night and it was scary as hell. Last time I went to it.

[judas]

Was also at that Edinburgh Hogmany. How it passed without fatalities I will never know.

I was caught right at the Art Gallery. Very frightening. Edinburgh learnt its lesson and the ticketing has my support.