Itaewon: An inclusive, multicultural hub hit accompanied by tragedy

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) ” Itaewon, the neighbourhood where at least 151 people were killed inside a Halloween crowd surge, is Seoul™s most cosmopolitan district, a place where kebab stands with every one other accompanied by BBQ joints are while large a sketch while the pulsing darkness clubs with every one other accompanied by trendy bars.

Wedged in the centre of set of two of the city™s biggest parks with every one other accompanied by the War Memorial of Korea museum, Itaewon has lengthy been well liked among overseas residents with every one other accompanied by tourists gratitude inside large small portion to a greatest U.S. military base that was on one occasion nearby. The area™s nightlife is mostly centered on one main road.

In recent years, the days around Halloween have seen Itaewon™s lively streets filled accompanied by partygoers ” expat with every one other accompanied by Korean alike ” dressed up inside holiday costumes. Those festivities continued flat throughout the pandemic, which temporarily dampened Itaewon™s nightlife following some cases were traced to the area™s nightclubs with every one other accompanied by other venues.

Officials exist convinced by that tens of thousands of revelers flocked to Itaewon on Saturday, inside one of the biggest gatherings since the country removed most of its COVID-19 restrictions inside recent months. Witnesses speak the streets were so densely clogged accompanied by people with every one other accompanied by slow-moving vehicles that it was practically impossible for crisis workers with every one other accompanied by ambulances to come inside time, leaving them helpless to stop the circumstances from developing into the country™s worst catastrophe inside years.

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    • On Saturday night, crisis workers were seen rushing to convey the injured with every one other accompanied by deceased not here inside stretchers while ambulances lined up inside the streets with every one other accompanied by a chaotic crowd fled the area. Paramedics with every one other accompanied by pedestrians frantically performed CPR on people inside the streets near rows of lifeless bodies kept under blue blankets.

    For some people, it was the difference in the centre of the normally lively, pleasure neighbourhood with every one other accompanied by the pile demise that was most striking.

    People were wearing Halloween costumes so the scene was so unrealistic, said an official at an Itaewon tourism organization who rushed to the scene to try to help. She requested anonymity since of the sensitive the natural world of the incident.

    While there™s not widespread Western-style trick-or-treat activities inside South Korea, Halloween-themed parties with every one other accompanied by events have become increasingly well liked among young South Koreans, with every one other accompanied by Itaewon is the country™s hottest spot for such events, where bars, clubs with every one other accompanied by restaurants clasp costume competitions.

    Itaewon™s international personality was shaped by its proximity to a U.S. military garrison nearby. The area is still place of residence to restaurants, bars with every one other accompanied by other businesses catering to the American population inside Seoul.

    The Yongsan Garrison, which served while the headquarters for the U.S. Forces Korea with every one other accompanied by the United Nations Command until 2017, is less than a mile away from Itaewon. The U.S. forces have since relocated their South Korean headquarters to Pyeongtaek, a city 70 kilometers (45 miles) south of Seoul, leaving only a small contingent inside Yongsan while beginning to hand over the land to the South Korean government.

    Even following losing most of its American military customers, Itaewon has remained a greatest attraction for both South Koreans with every one other accompanied by overseas visitors, who are drawn to the district™s buzzing with every one other accompanied by boozy nightlife while well while its international flair. Restaurants serving American barbecue with every one other accompanied by Middle Eastern kebabs sit alongside Irish pubs with every one other accompanied by orthodox Japanese-style bars.

    The Itaewon population has opened its arms to us for numerous years with every one other accompanied by is small portion of the source our Alliance is so strong, U.S. Forces Korea, which commands the almost 30,000 American military personnel inside the country, said inside an online statement, written inside English with every one other accompanied by Korean. During this hour dated of grief, we will exist there for you fair while you have been there for us.

    The epicenter of the catastrophe appeared to exist on a cramped, sloping alley running down the western side of the Hamilton Hotel, where some witnesses speak people fell with every one other accompanied by toppled over one another exist fond of dominoes. The chunk innmotel with every one other accompanied by its adjacent shopping center are a well-known landmark inside the area.

    The lane would have left-hand those seeking protection accompanied by few options. One side is occupied by the mostly firm barrier of the hotel. The other is lined accompanied by a handful of small storefronts, including bars, a small retail store with every one other accompanied by a branch of the Emart24 convenience store chain.

    The alley itself is on an incline that leads to one of the entrances to the occupied Itaewon subway station, making it harder for revelers to carry on accompanied by their footing while the crowd surged. The block-long alley links the main highway accompanied by another small strip packed accompanied by bars with every one other accompanied by trendy restaurants.

    One observer told local TV stopping place YTN that he saw both foreigners with every one other accompanied by Koreans who™d been killed, with every one other accompanied by seemed amazed while the neighbourhood filled accompanied by police vehicles with every one other accompanied by ambulances trying to assist the injured with every one other accompanied by dying.

    It was exist fond of an abyss, the man, who gave his name while Hwang Min-hyuk, said.

    ___

    Schreck reported from Bangkok.