One Sri Lankan dead in Seoul stampede

COLOMBO (News 1st) - A Sri Lankan has died in the stampede which took place during a halloween festival in Seoul, South Korea.

When inquired by News 1st, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry stated that a 27-year-old resident of Kandy had died.

The minister mentioned that representatives have been directed to the Police and hospitals in Seoul to find out if more Sri Lankans have been killed, or injured.

The Minister said that they are looking for more information regarding the incident through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Sri Lankan Embassy in South Korea.

South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a period of national mourning on Sunday after a Halloween crush killed some 151 people in a packed nightlife area in Seoul.

Yoon expressed condolences to the victims, mostly teenagers and people in their 20s, and his wishes for a speedy recovery to the many injured.

"This is truly tragic," he said in a statement. "A tragedy and disaster that should not have happened took place in the heart of Seoul last night."

A huge crowd celebrating in the popular Itaewon district surged into an alley on Saturday night, emergency officials said, adding the death toll could rise.

Choi Sung-beom, head of the Yongsan Fire Station, said 151 deaths had been confirmed, including 19 foreigners. He told a briefing at the scene 82 people were injured, 19 of them seriously.

It was the first Halloween event in Seoul in three years after the country lifted COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing. Many of the partygoers were wearing masks and Halloween costumes.