Taiwan’s government on Sunday sent its condolences to South Korea following a deadly stampede at a Halloween celebration in Seoul Saturday night that killed nearly 150 people.
“Our deepest condolences on the loss of life & injuries in the Itaewon incident,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a tweet.
“Thoughts & prayers to the families of the victims, & heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded. Taiwan grieves with Korea at this difficult time,” it added.
The ministry said it has also expressed the government’s condolence to South Korea’s representative to Taiwan, Chung Byung-won, for which the envoy expressed gratitude.
MOFA deputy spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) told CNA that so far, no Taiwanese nationals are found to be among the casualties.
The incident happened when a large number of young people celebrating Halloween in Seoul’s Itaewon nightlife area became trapped and crushed as the crowd surged into a narrow alley.
According to Korean authorities, it has led to the death of at least 149 people, and injuries to 150 others, making it South Korea’s worst disaster since the sinking of the Sewol Ferry in 2014, which killed 304 people.
It was not immediately clear what led the crowd to surge into the narrow downhill alley near the Hamilton Hotel, a major party spot in Seoul.
MOFA said that in case of emergency, Taiwanese nationals in South Korea are advised to call an emergency hotline at +82-10-9080-2761 to reach its representative office in Seoul.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel