Seoul Halloween Tragedy: Pope Francis offers prayers for victims of Seoul stampede

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People look at tributes at a makeshift memorial outside the Itaewon subway station in the district of Itaewon in Seoul on October 30, 2022, the day after a Halloween stampede in the area.

Pope Francis on Sunday prayed for victims of the stampede in Seoul that killed more than 150 people during a Halloween event.Following his traditional Angelus address at Saint Peter’s Square, Francis asked the faithful to pray “for the so many, especially young people, who died last night in Seoul, the tragic consequence of the sudden crush of the crowd”.

Seoul stampede death toll rises to 153, could climb furtherThe death toll in the halloween stampede in South Korea’s capital Seoul has mounted to 153 and could rise further, as 19 people sustained serious injuries.The stampede marked the worst tragedy in South Korea since the 2014 sinking of the ferry Sewol that killed 304 people, mostly high school students.

Horrific news from Seoul; Rishi Sunak

Horrific news from Seoul tonight.

All our thoughts are with those currently responding and all South Koreans at this very distressing time.

— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 29, 2022

Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in Seou: Joe Biden

Jill 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 wish for a quick recovery to all those who were injured. The United States stands with the Republic of Korea during this tragic time.

— President Biden (@POTUS) October 29, 2022

Deeply shocked at the loss of so many young lives due to the stampede in Seoul: Dr S JaishankarSouth Korean national flag atop the Embassy of Korea in New Delhi flies at half-mast as the country mourns the death of at least 151 people

#WATCH | The South Korean national flag atop the Embassy of Korea in New Delhi flies at half-mast as the country mourns the death of at least 151 people in yesterday's Seoul Halloween stampede pic.twitter.com/r5Yg8sOF1N

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2022

Party-goers in costumes fleeing in panic, desperate attempts at first aid on the sidewalks, scores of bodies lined up under makeshift shrouds: in Seoul’s lively Itaewon district, a Halloween festival turned to tragedy Saturday.More than 150 people — mostly in their teens and 20s — were killed in a crowd surge and stampede, the cause of which is still unclear, in this popular, cosmopolitan district of the South Korean capital, located close to a former US military base and renowned for its bars and clubs.

At least 120 people were killed Saturday and some 100 were injured in a stampede in central Seoul when thousands crowded into narrow streets to celebrate Halloween, officials said.Fire Department official Choi Seong-beom said the stampede took place around 10 pm (1300 GMT) and many of the victims were trampled to death.”The high number of casualties was the result of many being trampled during the Halloween event,” Choi said, adding that the death toll could climb.