South Korea’s police on Friday mentioned an absence of preparations and an insufficient response have been the primary causes of the lethal Halloween crush in Seoul final yr, wrapping up a months-long investigation into the tragedy that killed 159 individuals.
The annual festivities within the in style nightlife space of Itaewon turned lethal on Oct. 29 after tens of hundreds of younger revellers crowded into slender alleyways to rejoice the primary Halloween freed from COVID curbs in three years.
Authorities, together with the police, didn’t devise security measures though dense crowds made an accident probably, and didn’t take acceptable steps after requires rescue began coming in, mentioned Sohn Je-han, who led the investigation.
“Misjudgment of the scenario, delay in sharing data and lack of co-operation amongst associated companies collected to trigger massive casualties,” Sohn advised reporters.
The investigation workforce has referred 23 individuals, together with the top of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Company, to prosecutors.
The bereaved households and opposition lawmakers have criticized the police investigation for failing to carry high officers accountable.
“We now have so many questions unanswered,” Lee Jong-chul, head of a gaggle representing the bereaved households, advised reporters as he arrived at a prosecutors’ workplace in Seoul. “We got here right here to offer a sufferer’s assertion, anticipating a greater, expanded investigation.”
