[Itaewon Tragedy] Patients Transported to Hospitals 15km Away... Emergency Room Tense Throughout the Night

Casualties Surge, Nearby Hospital Emergency Rooms Overwhelmed

Ahead of Halloween, on the 30th, a massive crush disaster occurred in the Itaewon area. Police forces are controlling the scene and moving busily in the Itaewon area of Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] In the early morning of the 30th, when the 'Itaewon Disaster' that claimed 151 lives occurred, the emergency medical center (emergency room) of a large hospital in Seoul experienced a tense day. Ambulances frequently came and went at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital emergency room, the closest to the accident site, and as nearby hospital emergency rooms became saturated, patients were transported to hospitals about 15 km away, effectively causing emergency rooms across Seoul to work tirelessly throughout the night.

Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, located closest to the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon where the disaster occurred, literally served as the 'frontline' emergency room. Dozens of ambulances arrived at this hospital's emergency room overnight, with ambulances lined up in a row due to the large number of patients transported. Additionally, 45 bodies that had been temporarily placed near the accident site were transferred to the morgue.

The casualties were transported to various hospitals including Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, National Medical Center, Ewha Mokdong Hospital, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul National University Hospital, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, and Severance Hospital. In particular, as nearby hospital emergency rooms became saturated, patients were also transported to and treated at Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital and Seoul Asan Hospital emergency rooms, which are about 15 km away from the accident site.

According to the Central Emergency Medical Center's emergency medical monitoring system, the hospitalization rate due to severe trauma temporarily increased by 500% in the early morning of that day, and the emergency room bed occupancy rate at some hospitals in Seoul exceeded 150%. So far, 36 hospitals have been identified as receiving casualties. Citizens waiting for news of their family and friends also visited various hospitals.

The accident, which occurred the previous night in an alley near the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, resulted in 151 deaths and about 70 injuries as of that day. Since many injured patients are still receiving treatment in hospitals, the death toll may increase in the future. The fire authorities conducted three searches centered around the hotel area until the morning of that day and found no additional casualties.

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