Mourning Itaewon

Itaewon's 2022 Halloween celebration became a tragedy when massive crowds in the streets made up of an estimated 100,000 people-led to a deadly crush. Over 1,700 emergency response forces were dispatched to the scene, struggling to reach the injured as they navigated heavy traffic and crowds. As of November 1, the number of casualties stood at 154. Over 100 were in their 20s. 5 were in high school. 1 was in middle school. Sources: The Guardian, The New York Times, CNN, The Korea Times

In any crowd: note exit locations. Be aware of crowd density -if you're being pushed towards your neighbors, the crowd might be too dense. If you find yourself in a crush: 1. Don't scream. Save your oxygen and tilt your head up to access more fresh air. 2, Stand "like a boxer," as NYT puts it. Keep one foot ahead for stability; keep knees loose for agility. Create space by holding your arms in front of your chest. 3. If you drop something, don't reach for it. If you fall, stay on your side to protect your chest if people fall on you. 4. Don't move against the crowd. When you can, try moving diagonally to its edge to exit.

“It felt like the sky was falling. What to do about my child? What to do about my child?” - Choi Seon-mi, mother of deceased Park Ga-young (19), on hearing of her daughter’s death