Itaewon Halloween Tragedy, Jokowi Conveys Cita

President Jokowi/DOK BPMI Setpres

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) through his official Twitter account @Jokowi expressed his condolences for the victims of the Halloween celebration tragedy, in Itaewon, South Korea (South Korea).

"My deepest condolences for the tragedy in Seoul. Deep condolences to those who have lost loved ones," President Jokowi tweeted on Sunday, October 30.

On Saturday, October 29 at around 22.00 South Korean time, Itaewon, Seoul, hundreds of people experienced cardiac arrest after thousands of people packed a narrow road to celebrate the Halloween party.

"Indonesia is grieving together with the people of South Korea and we hope that the injured victims can recover quickly," said President Jokowi.

The Indonesian Embassy in Seoul said that two Indonesian citizens (WNI) were victims of the Itaewon tragedy, but had received treatment at the hospital and returned to their homes.

An Indonesian citizen with the initials AR was treated at Korea University Anam Hospital and has been discharged from the hospital in good condition, while another Indonesian citizen with the initials CA has also received treatment at Seobuk Hospital for his minor injuries and has returned to his residence on Saturday (29/10) night.

Based on reports in various South Korean national media, there are currently around 151 fatalities and 76 injured victims.

It is feared that this number will increase because until Sunday (30/10) at 14.00 local time at least 3,480 missing person reports were received. A total of 3,493 by phone call and 87 in the form of visits.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has held an emergency meeting and ordered quick response actions to all his staff to evacuate the victims, prevent additional casualties and maintain the situation at the scene.

Images on social media show hundreds of people, who crowd the narrow, tilted alley, are pinched and unable to move.

Meanwhile, emergency handling officers and the police are trying to free them from the crush.

Other images showed chaotic circumstances when firefighters and residents handled dozens of apparently unconscious people.

A Reuters witness said the morgue was set up in a building across from the scene.

The dead were later seen being transported on wheel stretchers and moved to a government building for identification, according to witnesses.

The Halloween party is the first time it has held in three years, after South Korea lifted COVID-19 restrictions and a ban on gathering.

Itaewon is a district that is popular among young South Koreans and foreign visitors.