15 Disaster Medical Support Teams from Seoul and Gyeonggi Dispatched to Itaewon Accident Site

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As of 2:40 a.m. on the 30th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that 15 Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMAT) and the Seoul and Gyeonggi Emergency Medical Support Centers have been dispatched to the Itaewon accident site to provide emergency medical care.

The Disaster Medical Assistance Teams belong to 14 disaster base hospitals in the Seoul and Gyeonggi areas, including two teams from Seoul National University Hospital, as well as Hanyang University Hospital, Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital, Ewha Mokdong Hospital, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul Medical Center, Bundang CHA Hospital, Bucheon Soonchunhyang Hospital, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, Hallym University Hospital, Myongji University Hospital, and Ajou University Hospital.

The fire authorities reported that as of now, 146 people have died and 150 have been injured in the large-scale crush accident that occurred around 10:20 p.m. the previous night in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

The casualties are being transported sequentially from severe patients to nearby hospitals according to the severity classification at the scene. The hospitals receiving patients include Soonchunhyang Seoul Hospital, National Medical Center, Ewha Mokdong Hospital, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul National University Hospital, Hanyang University Hospital, Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital, Konkuk University Hospital, Korea University Anam Hospital, Sinchon Severance Hospital, Ewha Seoul Hospital, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Boramae Hospital, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, Hallym University Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, and Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital. The bodies of 46 people who died at the scene were transported to the Wonhyo-ro Indoor Gymnasium.

Immediately after the accident, the Ministry of Health and Welfare began medical support at the scene through the Central Emergency Medical Situation Room. Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong visited the on-site emergency medical center before attending the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting chaired by President Yoon Seok-yeol to check the support status for emergency patients.

Minister Cho instructed, "To activate the emergency medical system promptly, secure all possible ambulances and transport patients as quickly as possible, and secure available medical staff and emergency room beds at all nearby hospitals to provide treatment."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.