After Itaewon, experts offer advice on staying safe in crowds
, 2022-11-04 01:58:27,
Experts in Japan are explaining how to spot the warning signs in dangerously overcrowded places. They say it’s important to never underestimate the potential for a crush like the one that claimed more than 150 lives during Halloween celebrations in South Korea.
Itaewon is one of the South Korean capital’s busiest districts. The area is a popular tourist destination, famed for its narrow streets lined with restaurants and nightclubs.
After three years of COVID-19 restrictions, the crowds had returned for Halloween. Local media say more than 100,000 people visited on the night of October 29.
Distress calls came hours before deaths
Authorities started receiving calls about the dangerous situation hours before there were any fatalities. Shortly after 6:30 p.m., one person asked the police to do more to control the surging crowds. They said they believed they were about to die.
Two hours later, another caller reported seeing people laying on the roadside. Again, they urged police to do more.
At 10:11 p.m., emergency services received yet another call from someone saying they thought their life was in danger.
A few minutes later, some people lost their footing in a packed sloping…
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