South Korea Mourns and Investigates , Deadly Halloween Crowd Surge.<br />NBC News reports that on Oct. 29, nearly 100,000 people gathered in the district of Itaewon for South Korea's largest Halloween celebration since the onset of the pandemic.<br />A crowd surge began in a narrow alleyway and led to the deaths of over 150 people, including two Americans.<br />A crowd surge began in a narrow alleyway and led to the deaths of over 150 people, including two Americans.<br />Over 140 more people were injured, <br />with 33 in serious condition.<br />Over 140 more people were injured, <br />with 33 in serious condition.<br />On Oct. 31, Seoul police admitted <br />to errors in handling the crowd.<br />On Oct. 31, Seoul police admitted <br />to errors in handling the crowd.<br />NBC News reports that a top police official said that <br />while authorities anticipated the large crowds, <br />they didn't consider the possibility of a deadly surge.<br />The focus was on traffic control, crime prevention and illegal activities and not on the safety of the crowd flow on the streets and narrow alleyways, Hong Ki-hyun, chief of the National Police Agency’s Public <br />Order Management Bureau, via NBC News.<br />I was told that police officers on the scene didn’t detect a sudden surge in the crowd. I regret the error in judgment call of these officers. , Hong Ki-hyun, chief of the National Police Agency’s Public <br />Order Management Bureau, via NBC News.<br />President Yoon Suk-yeol has ordered a weeklong mourning period for the nation. .<br />President Yoon Suk-yeol has ordered a weeklong mourning period for the nation. .<br />I am engulfed with sorrow and responsibility as the president in charge of the lives and safety of our people, as I think about the bereaving families suffering from the loss of their loved ones, President Yoon Suk-yeol, via statement.<br />My heart breaks so much at the tragic loss especially of the young people, whose dreams now cannot see the light, President Yoon Suk-yeol, via statement
