[Timeline] 'Over 10 People Buried' Reported at 10:24 AM... 151 Deaths Confirmed After 12 Hours

Gathered in a 4m Wide Alley Next to Hamilton Hotel
CPR Given to Cardiac Arrest Patient After 11 PM
Response Elevated to Level 3 Within About an Hour
Casualty Count Continues to Rise

Itaewon, true to its reputation as the mecca of Halloween festivals, was crowded with Halloween crowds from the 28th. On the night of the 30th, an estimated 100,000 people gathered in Itaewon, according to police estimates. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] Itaewon, true to its reputation as the mecca of the Halloween festival, was overflowing with Halloween crowds starting from the 28th. The peak of the festival was evident on the night of the 30th, when a massive crowd gathered. Police estimated that around 100,000 people had gathered.

A tragedy began around 10:15 PM in an alley next to the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon. The alley was only about 4 meters wide and was also a slope. A 119 emergency call reporting "about 10 people crushed" was received at 10:24 PM. The fire department dispatched to the scene within 2 minutes of the report, and by 11:30 PM, 81 rescue calls related to breathing difficulties and other issues had been received. It was reported that many people did not realize the severity of the situation immediately after the initial accident. It was only after 11 PM, when a sudden influx of cardiac arrest patients occurred, that the tragedy was recognized. At that time, 21 people near the Hamilton Hotel were reported to be receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The fire department activated response level 1 at 10:38 PM, 19 minutes after the first report, and requested dispatch of the 119 Emergency Medical Support Team from the Emergency Medical Situation Management Center at 10:45 PM.

Citizens present at the scene described people being pushed and falling, piling up about 5 to 6 layers deep. A man in his 20s, Mr. Kim, said, "I got caught between the person in front and the person behind as people pushed from behind," adding, "People screamed and shouted 'help me,' and it turned into chaos in an instant."

It is reported that a disaster occurred as patients suddenly suffered cardiac arrest after 11 p.m. At that time, 21 people near the Hamilton Hotel were receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A man in his 20s, Kim, said, "I was pushed from behind and got stuck between the person in front and the person behind," adding, "People were screaming and shouting 'Help me,' turning the scene into chaos in an instant."
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Around 11:45 PM, news spread that about 50 patients were presumed to be in cardiac arrest. At 11:50 PM, President Yoon Suk-yeol issued instructions to "ensure prompt emergency care and treatment." President Yoon said, "All related ministries and agencies, led by the Minister of the Interior and Safety, must make every effort to ensure rapid emergency care and treatment for the affected citizens," and added, "The National Police Agency and local governments should promptly conduct safety inspections and implement safety measures at event sites to ensure that Halloween events held nationwide proceed in an orderly manner."

As the situation at the scene worsened, the fire department raised the response level to 2 at 11:13 PM and further escalated it to level 3 at 11:50 PM. A total of 2,692 personnel and 233 pieces of equipment were deployed for rescue and recovery operations in cooperation with the police and others. The fire department mobilized 142 ambulances nationwide. In Seoul, 52 119 ambulances were dispatched. Outside Seoul, 90 ambulances were deployed, including 50 in Gyeonggi Province and 10 each in Incheon, Chungnam, Chungbuk, and Gangwon. Fifteen disaster medical support teams from Seoul and Gyeonggi also responded to the scene.

The official casualty count continues to rise. As of 9 a.m. on the 30th, a total of 233 casualties have been reported, including 151 deaths. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Meanwhile, the authorities' casualty count increased. Initially, 2 deaths and 23 injuries were confirmed (1:45 AM on the 30th), but within 30 minutes, the numbers rose to 59 deaths and 150 injuries (2:10 AM), and by 3 AM, 120 deaths and 100 injuries. After 4 AM, the death toll reached 146, then 149 at 6:30 AM, and by around 10:20 AM, it rose to 151 deaths (97 women, 54 men, 19 foreigners) and 82 injuries. A fire department official said at a briefing at 6:30 AM, "Some people who died in hospitals were counted as deceased, and some injured people returned home after treatment, reducing the number of injuries." Among the 82 injured, 19 were seriously injured and 63 had minor injuries. The fire department noted that the seriously injured included patients in cardiac arrest who could potentially be reclassified as deceased. Most victims were identified as being in their teens and twenties.

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