Police and rescuers are treating the injured and dealing with the victims at the stampede site in Seoul's Itaewon Halloween crowd crush, South Korea. Photo: People's Daily's Weibo account

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a condolence message to South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Sunday over the stampede in Seoul’s Itaewon that caused heavy casualties. At least 153 people, including four Chinese nationals, were killed in Itaewon’s Halloween crowd crush on Saturday. 

Xi expressed his deep condolences and sincere sympathy on behalf of the Chinese government and Chinese people. As the accident killed and injured multiple Chinese citizens, Xi said he hopes that the South Korean government will make every effort to appropriately handle the matters related to the Chinese victims and those injured. 

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also sent condolences to his South Korean counterpart Han Duck-soo on Sunday. 

The Chinese embassy issued a statement on Sunday to remind Chinese citizens in South Korea to strengthen security precautions, and said that it is communicating with the local authorities and paying close attention to the situation of Chinese citizens. The embassy has also been in touch with the families of the Chinese victims to express condolences and provide further assistance.

At least 153 people were killed in the incident and a further 82 were injured in a crush as huge Halloween crowds surged into a narrow street in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, local authorities said.

The incident happened in the Itaewon nightlife area which was holding its first unmasked Halloween celebrations since the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the dead were young people in their 20s and 19 were foreigners, according to media reports.

After holding an emergency meeting, South Korea's President, Yoon Suk-yeol, ordered a task force to be set up to help treat the injured. He also launched an investigation into the cause of the crush.

With the death toll as it stands, this is the deadliest disaster in South Korea since 2014, when the Sewol ferry sank killed more than 300 people, read a report from the BBC.

The Chinese embassy in South Korea Sunday issued a statement to Chinese citizens in South Korea to strengthen safety precautions in response to the stampede in Seoul's Itaewon.

The embassy reminded Chinese citizens to avoid crowded areas, not to blindly follow the trend to participate in large-scale events, and to be wary of "candy" and "drinks" given by strangers. Meanwhile, Chinese citizens should also take precautions against the epidemic and stay in close contact with their families and friends.

More than 750,000 Chinese citizens live in South Korea, accounting for 44 percent of foreign residents in the country, according to official figures released by South Korean authorities at the end of 2021.

Global Times