Itaewon crush a ‘perfect storm’ that could have been prevented

People sit on the street after being rescued, in Seoul, South Korea, on Oct 29, 2022. - Reuters

SEOUL (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): The crowd crush that killed over 150 people in Seoul’s clubbing district Itaewon is said to have been a “perfect storm”, with the area’s unique layout and unexpected human congestion converging to create one of South Korea’s worst tragedies.

Itaewon, which is home to many foreigners, draws tens of thousands of people clad in fancy costumes every October to celebrate Halloween, an ancient Celtic festival.