Seoul, South Korea
CNN
—
South Korean authorities mentioned Monday they’d no pointers to deal with the large crowds that gathered for Halloween festivities in Seoul, as households within the nation and around the globe mourn the 156 victims of Saturday evening’s crowd crush.
The crush happened within the slender neon-lit alleyways of the favored nightlife district Itaewon, the place witnesses described being unable to maneuver or breathe as 1000’s of revelers stood shoulder-to-shoulder in a avenue not more than 4 meters (13 ft) huge.
Frantic households spent a lot of Sunday gathering at info facilities the place authorities compiled particulars of the useless and wounded, and contacting morgues and hospitals in a determined try to find lacking relations.
With all the victims now recognized, the panic has remodeled to nationwide grief because the nation grapples with considered one of its worst-ever disasters – whereas mother and father abroad make preparations for his or her deceased youngsters in a international land.
Official memorial altars had been arrange in central Seoul Monday, with pictures exhibiting crowds visiting to pay their respects. Many had been in tears and holding white flowers; others knelt and bowed deeply to the altar.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, his spouse, Kim Keon-hee, and high officers together with the prime minister and Seoul mayor joined the mourners.
Many outlets and companies had been closed to look at a week-long nationwide interval of mourning. Parts of central Seoul had been practically abandoned – a extremely uncommon sight within the often bustling capital that’s residence to about 10 million folks.
People additionally paid respects at a makeshift memorial in Itaewon, outdoors a subway station close to the alley the place the crush occurred. The station entrance is adorned with rows of flowers, and choices equivalent to handwritten notes, bottles of the Korean liquor soju and paper cups full of drinks.
Among the mourners was a civic group of the bereaved households of the Sewol Ferry catastrophe, which killed 304 folks – largely teenagers on a college journey – when the vessel sank in 2014.
“As one who had suffered the same pain, my heart is torn and I’m rendered speechless,” one of many group’s members informed reporters on the memorial, saying the households had been saddened to see “a major disaster like this repeated.”
Just down the road, the doorway to the alley had been cordoned off, with safety personnel standing guard as forensic groups clad in white protecting fits scoured the world, nonetheless affected by trash and particles.
Amid the grief, questions have emerged in regards to the authorities’s dealing with of the incident and an obvious lack of crowd management earlier than the tragedy.
One survivor, 22-year-old French trade pupil Anne-Lou Chevalier, informed CNN she handed out within the crowd after being “crushed” by fellow revelers. “At some point I had no air, and we were so crushed to other people that I couldn’t breathe at all. So, I just passed out,” Chevalier mentioned.
Several eyewitnesses and survivors mentioned they’d seen few or no cops within the space earlier than the scenario deteriorated.
Earlier on Sunday, the minister of the inside and security mentioned solely a “normal” degree of safety personnel had been deployed to Itaewon as a result of the gang there didn’t appear unusually massive – whereas a “considerable number” of police had been despatched to a different a part of Seoul in response to anticipated protests.
But – going through a backlash from Korean politicians and on social media – authorities appeared to vary tack on Monday, saying they’d deployed about 137 personnel to Itaewon that evening, in comparison with about 30 to 70 personnel in earlier years earlier than the pandemic.
“For this time’s Halloween festival, because it was expected that many people would gather in Itaewon, I understand that it was prepared by putting in more police force than other years,” mentioned Oh Seung-jin, director of the violent crime investigation division on the National Police Agency.
However, he admitted, “currently there is no separate preparation manual for such a situation where there is no organizer and a gathering of a crowd is expected.” Moreover, the police had been deployed not for crowd management – however for crime prevention and to stop “various illegal activities.”
Kim Seong-ho, director of the catastrophe and security administration division on the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, echoed these feedback, saying they didn’t have “guidelines or a manual” for such an “unprecedented situation.”
The victims had been largely younger individuals who had gone to Itaewon Saturday evening, looking forward to South Korea’s first Halloween celebrations in years with out Covid restrictions.
The loss of life toll rose to 156 on Tuesday following the loss of life of a critically injured girl in her 20s, Seoul police mentioned. In complete, 101 ladies and 55 males had been killed.
Twelve of the victims had been youngsters and greater than 100 had been of their 20s, in response to authorities.
Among their quantity had been 26 international nationals from international locations together with the United States, China, Iran, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Japan, Australia, Norway, France, Russia, Austria, Vietnam, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
An additional 149 folks had been injured, 33 critically, together with 15 international nationals.
Six college students who attended faculties in Seoul – one center schooler and 5 excessive schoolers – had been among the many useless, in addition to three lecturers, mentioned the Korean Ministry of Education.
Three South Korean navy personnel had been additionally amongst these killed, mentioned a Korean Defense Ministry official.
Two American school college students had been recognized – Steven Blesi from Georgia, and Anne Gieske from Kentucky – each of their junior 12 months.
Blesi’s father, Steve Blesi, mentioned his son had “always been an adventurer.” He was an Eagle Scout, favored basketball and needed to be taught a number of languages, he mentioned.
“Maybe in a half hour before this tragedy event took place, I texted him in WhatsApp … ‘I know you’re out and about. Stay safe. I love you.’ And I never got a response back,” Steve mentioned. “He had an incredibly bright future that is now gone.”
Dan Gieske, Anne’s father, mentioned in a press release Sunday night that the household was “completely devastated and heartbroken,” calling Anne “a bright light loved by all.”
Anne had been a nursing pupil learning overseas in Seoul this semester, mentioned the president of the University of Kentucky.
The father of Mei Tomikawa, a 26-year-old Japanese trade pupil who was killed within the crush, informed Japanese public broadcaster NHK he was “prepared for the worst” when he couldn’t attain her.
She was learning Korean earlier than beginning faculty in Seoul, he mentioned, talking earlier than touring from Japan to South Korea on Monday.
“I tried calling her to warn her to be careful, but she never answered her phone,” he mentioned, in response to NHK. “She was a great daughter … I want to see my daughter as soon as possible.”
The household of an Australian sufferer, Grace Rached, additionally launched a press release on Monday describing her as “a talented film producer who was passionate about making a difference.”
“We are missing our gorgeous angel Grace who lit up a room with her infectious smile. Grace always made others feel important and her kindness left an impression on everyone she ever met. Grace always cared about others and she was loved by all,” the household wrote.
Authorities are actually working with international embassies and households abroad, providing assist with funeral preparations. As the week goes on, extra names and faces of those that died are more likely to emerge, because the nation searches for solutions as to how such a catastrophe – in an space identified to be crowded on Halloween, with festivities weeks within the planning – might have unfolded.