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[Editor's note, Oct. 30 8:30pm: According to crowd safety expert G. Keith Still, who spoke to The Washington Post, what happened in Itaewon can be described as a crowd crush or surge.

It happens when people are packed together in a confined space and movement causes the crowd to fall over.

A stampede implies that people had place to run, which was not the case in Itaewon.

This article has been updated with the correct term.]

Update on Oct. 30, 1:30am (Singapore time): Officials have said that there are 59 confirmed deaths and 150 injuries from the crowd crush, according to Korean news agency Yonhap.

About 50 people are reported to have suffered cardiac arrest right after a crowd crush in Itaewon, Seoul on Oct. 29.

According to Yonhap News, the fire department confirmed that huge crowds of people were in the crowd crush at Halloween parties.

The Korea Herald pinpointed the location of the incident as near the Hamilton Hotel, adding that there were an estimated 100,000 people in the area on the day.

The National Fire Agency subsequently announced that 21 people have been transferred to the hospital for cardiac arrest.

South Korean national broadcaster KBS confirmed the death of two people.

The total estimated casualty stands at around 100.

Large crowds

A video posted on Twitter showed people standing shoulder to shoulder in Itaewon:

https://twitter.com/yusoy26/status/1586372667220758528

Another video showed rescue workers working to free those pinned under other people:

https://twitter.com/dddmmm1236/status/1586386525130219521

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed by rescue workers in uniform, as well as plain-clothed people:

韓国のハロウィン、将棋倒しの現場が悲惨…#이태원

将棋倒しで５０人心停止の情報＝ハロウィーンで人出のソウル―韓国

https://t.co/muMc4zXtBT

— maro🍎️ (@881maro) October 29, 2022

"Dozens" unconscious

According to The Korea Herald, rescue workers conducted CPR to dozens of unconscious people at about 11:30pm Korea time, or 10:30pm Singapore time.

Yonhap said 142 firefighting vehicles were mobilised for the area.

They added that South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol will preside over an emergency meeting about the crowd crush.

Top screenshots from @yusoy26 & LoverDuck_LD on Twitter