On Friday night, Nicole Berg, 21, from Trondheim, was in Itaewon. Less than 24 hours later she was lively nightlife district turned into a nightmare.
– It’s absolutely terrible to think about it, he tells Dagbladet.
On the phone from Seoul, he recounts the drama that took place during a Halloween celebration in Seoul. This was confirmed on Sunday morning by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a Norwegian citizen was confirmed dead.
At least 153 dead
Berg had been there the night before in Itaewon with good friends. They drank and enjoyed themselves and dressed in elegant costumes. The plan was to return on Saturday night, but Friday night was so late that they decided to change their plans.
They are very happy and grateful for this today.
Upset: Nicole Berg (21) is still in shock at what happened late Saturday night. Photo: private
sea View
Special atmosphere
– I can’t stop thinking about all those who have lost someone and who still don’t know if their loved ones are alive, he says.
When Dagbladet spoke to her on Sunday morning, Norwegian time, she just got off the subway in Seoul. On the way to a friend who has lost a classmate, the atmosphere is strange.
– It is usually loud and people talk, but today the atmosphere was very special. People say as little as possible, she says.
The 21-year-old estimates that she is about a kilometer from the place where more than 150 people died.
– We saw people running in panic and heard both ambulances and police all the time. We realized that something absolutely horrible had happened.
ATTENTION: This message arrived on Nicole Berg’s phone. Photo: private
sea View
Please excuse the delay
25-year-old Kine Solberg Svendsen is currently on exchange in Seoul where she studies history. Together with their friends, she should have been in Itaewo when the fatal accident occurred. As she got off the subway, she realized that something terrible had happened.
– There was an extremely large number of people. The police told people to turn around. We were told that several people were revived on the street and that we had to escape, Solberg Svendsen tells Dagbladet.
DRAMATIC EVENING: – People pushed from all sides, says Kine Solberg Svendsen. Photo: private
sea View
– People pushed from all sides, continue.
Fortunately for the 25-year-old and her friends, they were delayed and chose to spend a little longer than expected to get ready for a nice night on the town.
– We talked a lot about how lucky we were that he was delayed. It could have been us, she says.
When she was told that several people had been killed, she quickly contacted everyone she knew who could have been affected. Fortunately, it turned out that none of the 25-year-old’s friends and acquaintances were affected by the accident.
HALLOWEEN: Kine Solberg Svendsen (TV) with friends. Photo: private
sea View
– There aren’t many Norwegians here, but the ones I’ve talked to get along well. My classmates are fine too, given the conditions, she says.
– Never finished
Police say they are currently unaware of what triggered the crowding and panic and are investigating the incident.
According to local media, the stampede occurred when large numbers of people rushed to a certain Itaewon bar following rumors that an unnamed celebrity was there.
An eyewitness told South Korean news agency Yonhap that he saw people crushed to death.
– People are lying on top of each other in different layers. Some gradually lost consciousness, while others seemed already dead, she says.
Swedish Alex Noble, who was on Itaewon’s main street, says Swedish radio P4 that many ambulances and fire engines came suddenly and as he saw people being transported there from other places.
– It’s never over. Everyone seemed completely lifeless, she says.
