South Korea begins week of mourning, investigation as Seoul death toll rises to 154

Partygoers were killed in the crush when a huge crowd celebrating Halloween surged into an alley in a nightlife area of the South Korean capital on Saturday night.

On Sunday, Yoon declared national mourning would be observed until Saturday (November 5) with government buildings will flying the flag at half-mast.

He also expressed condolences to victims and their families, prayed for quick recoveries among the injured, and vowed an investigation to find the cause.

US President Joe Biden also sent a message of solidarity: "Jill [Biden] and I send our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in Seoul. We grieve with the people of the Republic of Korea and send our best wishes for a quick recovery to all those who were injured."

Chinese President Xi Jinping said he was shocked to learn of the heavy casualties in the stampede, according to China’s Foreign Ministry website. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi extended deep condolences over the deaths of the victims and sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured.

The death toll from the crush among partygoers who had crowded into Seoul’s popular Itaewon district rose to 154 on Sunday. The accident is the second-worst in South Korea’s history, after the Sewol ferry disaster that killed 304 people in 2014.

At least one Thai was killed in the stampede, according to the Royal Thai Embassy in South Korea.

Read More: https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/40021544

Restaurants and cafes in Itaewon will shut for three days, local police said on Sunday.

Read More: https://www.nationthailand.com/world/40021550

Tech and game firms Kakao and NCSoft pulled their Halloween promotions after the incident while South Korea’s Everland amusement park has cancelled its Halloween-themed events.

Regional governments and organisations across the country have also scrapped events to mark the festival tonight.