Over 140 Killed In South Korea Halloween Stampede

Over 140 people were killed Saturday and some 150 were injured in a horrific stampede in central Seoul when a large crowd celebrating Halloween crammed into a narrow street, officials reported.

Photos from the scene showed scores of bodies spread on the pavement covered by bed sheets and emergency workers dressed in orange vests loading even more bodies on stretchers into ambulances.

The stampede occurred near the Hamilton Hotel in the nightlife district of Itaewon where a large number of people entered a narrow alley near the hotel.

Fire Department official Choi Seong-beom said the stampede happened around 10:00 pm (1300 GMT) and lots of the victims were trampled to death.

“The high number of casualties was the result of many being trampled during the Halloween event,” Choi stated, adding that the death toll could climb.