On the South Korea halloween stampede
The Building and Woodworkers' International (BWI) joins its South Korean affiliates in expressing its deep condolences to the families of the 153 people, many of whom young adults, who died in a stampede during Halloween festivities in Seoul on 30 October.
It was reported that the tragic accident happened after a huge Halloween party crowd surged into a narrow alley in Itaewon, a nightlife district in Seoul, which also injured more than a hundred people.
BWI adds its voice in calling for a speedy, thorough and impartial investigation of the incident. According to various accounts, 24 hours prior to the tragedy, there were already warning signs that authorities were failing to manage and control the dangerous number of people who came to the activities. We hope that truth, justice and accountability will prevail, and this tragic accident will not happen again in the future.