Many Koreans continue to pay tribute this Monday, October 31 to the 154 people who died on Saturday during the deadly stampede in Seoul. But questions are beginning to emerge among a shocked and angry population demanding answers as to the exact circumstances of the tragedy.
In the narrow streets of the Itaewon district, emotion still reigns between bouquets of flowers and tributes to the victims. But the anger begins to show the tip of his nose, after Seoul’s murderous stampede. ” Every year, we know that there are Halloween parties in Itaewon. It’s hard to say, but I think if there had been enough preparation on the part of the government it would not have happened. “, advances a thirty-year-old at the microphone of Nicholas Roccathe RFI correspondent in Seoul.
The question of responsibility is now being raised on social networks as well as in the local media, where criticism is rife in the face of the authorities’ lack of anticipation.
Four factors behind the tragic Itaewon crowd surge: No organizing body, little crowd control and police presence, a pent-up demand to go out and narrow, steep streets.https://t.co/5uT3nB4UxV
— The Korea Herald 코리아헤럴드 (@TheKoreaHerald) October 31, 2022
The head of the law enforcement section of the national police admitted on Monday that his services were unable to foresee the dangerousness of the situation. Police deployed just 137 officers to Itaewon on Saturday night, in the face of some 100,000 revelers, a figure far higher than Halloween parties in previous years, the senior law enforcement official noted. Local media, however, pointed out that most of these police were there to prevent drug use, not to channel the crowd of revelers.
The profile of the victims, young people in disguise who came to celebrate Halloween, a very popular holiday in South Korea, also calls out. This 2022 edition was the first real festive event in the country since the relaxation of restrictions linked to the coronavirus pandemic. In response to numerous criticisms of the weak presence of the police on the evening of the tragedy, the head of the agency responsible for maintaining order within the national police admitted on Monday that his services were unable to anticipate the danger of the situation.
Determine the exact cause of the tragedy
The South Korean police are however masters in crowd control, in a country where the numerous and frequent demonstrations are often supervised by a number of agents greater than that of the participants.
Any event likely to attract at least 1,000 people must be declared to the authorities at least 30 days in advance, so that the police and firefighters can analyze the project and decide on the protective measures that will be taken. impose. This is the case for political or trade union demonstrations but not for these young people who came spontaneously to participate in large numbers and in disorder at the Halloween party in Itaewon.
A witness told me of a handful of police officers present on the spot around 11 a.m., whereas earlier in the day the police force was impressive to manage the demonstrations. This young man himself tried to resuscitate a person in cardiac arrest.
— Nicolas Rocca (@lenicorocca) October 30, 2022
The police announced on Monday that they had set up an investigation team which viewed the videos of the surveillance cameras of the surrounding businesses and questioned dozens of witnesses, in order to determine the exact cause of the tragedy. A 561-member task force has been set up, according to the Interior Ministry.
The South Korean president had promised, the day after the tragedy, the opening of a “rigorous” investigation into the circumstances of the stampede.
The disaster left 154 dead, including 26 foreigners, according to the latest official report which could still increase, at least 33 injured people being in critical condition.
(and haswith AFP)