Halloween Celebration Tragedy In Itaewon Seoul, 50 Naturals Stopped Heart

Halloween celebration incident in Seoul, South Korea. (Twitter/@indysmillesin1)

The fire fighting authority reported that at least 50 people had received cardiac arrest (CPR) in the Itaewon Halloween party area, Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, October 29.

The quick response team received at least 81 calls from people in Itaweon who claimed to have shortness of breath.

President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered his staff to immediately provide first aid and treatment to them, according to the president's office.

Separately, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also instructed officials to make their best efforts to minimize losses.

Meanwhile, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who was on a visit to Europe, decided to return to his homeland after the incident, local officials said.

It is known that at least 149 people died with 76 others injured in the incident in Seoul's Itaewon District, South Korea as a large crowd of party visitors stormed Halloween celebrations late at night, firefighters said Sunday.

The accident occurred Saturday night in a narrow alley near the Hamilton Hotel, in the famous nightlife district after crowds of party visitors flooded the area, witnesses said.

Thousands of people visited the area for Halloween parties.

A total of 149 people have been confirmed dead on Sunday morning with 76 others injured, 57 of whom are serious, fire authorities said, adding the death toll could rise further.

Choi Seong-beom, head of the fire department at Yongsan, which includes Itaewon, told reporters "a large number of victims fell as crowds jostled during the Halloween party."

The victim in his 20s was the age group most victims of the incident, authorities said.

Fire authorities initially received dozens of reports from people in the Itaewon area about patients having difficulty breathing. Rescue teams sent to the scene have given CPR to dozens of victims on nearby roads.

"When the people in front of the front fall, those behind are stepped on," an eye witness in his 20s told Yonhap News Agency.

Rumors at the scene were that crowds flocked somewhere to see a celebrity, or candy mixed with drugs had been distributed at the club, but the exact cause of the accident is not yet known.

A total of 848 personnel, including 346 firefighters, were deployed to the area.

The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) Seoul said that no Indonesian citizens (WNI) were victims of the Halloween celebration event in Itaewon, South Korea.

"As of this morning, information from the police stated that it was not known that Indonesian citizens were victims," said a written statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul received in Jakarta, Sunday.

"On Saturday, October 29 at around 22.00 local time, a sad incident occurred at the Halloween celebration in Itaewon which resulted in fatalities and injuries," he wrote.

The Indonesian Embassy in Seoul is coordinating with various parties to gather information about the possibility of Indonesian citizens being victims.