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SEOUL —South Korean emergency officials say at least 149 people were killed during a stampede in a party-going district in South Korea's capital, where young people had gathered for Halloween celebrations.
Seventy-nine people were also injured in the incident in Seoul's Itaewon area, which had been packed with crowds Saturday night, officials said at a late-night news conference.
Officials say most of the victims were young women.
The Itaewon area, located in central Seoul, is lined with nightclubs and bars that are popular with expatriates and locals.
The district was packed with partygoers celebrating Halloween, which typically attracts Itaewon's largest and most lively crowds of the year. Crowds were especially large this year, since it is the first Halloween since COVID-19 social distancing restrictions were released. Local media estimated about 100,000 people had gathered in the area.
It is not immediately clear what sparked the rush, which started behind the Hamilton Hotel in a steep, narrow alley lined with clubs.
A witness told VOA that during the initial chaos, she thought that people lying on the ground were drunk or passed out, but she later found out they were injured or dead. The partygoer did not provide a name because of the sensitivity of the situation.
Hours after the incident, thousands continued partying in Itaewon nightclubs, even as emergency officials nearby rushed bodies into a stream of waiting ambulances.
Masses also lingered outside, most in Halloween costumes - some stunned, some laughing, seemingly in shock - as they tried to make sense of the situation.
Officials say two foreigners have been counted among the dead but provided no info about their nationalities. They said it was difficult to identify the bodies, in part because many were wearing Halloween costumes, and many were not carrying identification.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose office is near Itaewon, was presiding over a late-night government response, his office told reporters. He issued a statement calling for officials to ensure swift treatment for those injured and review the safety of the festivity sites. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is in Europe, has decided to return home.
The White House released a statement from U.S. President Joe Biden Saturday, saying, "Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in Seoul. We grieve with the people of the Republic of Korea and send our best wishes for a quick recovery to all those who were injured."
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also tweeted, "We were deeply saddened to learn of the deadly stampede today in Seoul. We send our thoughts and deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and injured, as well as to the people of the ROK as they mourn this horrific tragedy."
As the sun rose in Seoul, much of Itaewon remained a police zone, as officials conducted investigations and cleared debris from the area.
Near the alley where the stampede began, some personal belongings remained, including a single white shoe lying on the sidewalk.
A young woman who spoke to VOA said she rushed to the scene looking for her sister, who had been in the area. She later found her sister's name on a list of the deceased, she said, and was searching the sidewalks for her personal belongings.
Earlier, pictures and videos posted on social media depicted scenes of chaos as revelers, many dressed in Halloween costumes, attempted to resuscitate those who had been injured.