The death toll reached at least 153 in the Halloween incident in the Itaewon neighborhood of the South Korean capital Seoul on Saturday night, according to the Yongsan fire chief.
The fire chief added that at least 100 other people were injured in the incident.
The cause of death has not yet been disclosed, but the Yonhap news agency reported that dozens of people suffered “cardiac arrest” as a result of the accident.
At the time, the mayor said many people fell during the Halloween celebrations, resulting in injuries.
Authorities have not yet provided precise details on the cause of the accident or the circumstances of the injured.
According to the presidential office, South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol has sent a disaster medical assistance team.
Presidential spokesman Lee Jae-myung said in a briefing that the president also ordered authorities to secure emergency beds in nearby hospitals and to carry out emergency relief operations and timely treatment.
The spokesperson said Yoon is currently in an emergency meeting on the situation. The Yonhap news agency quoted fire brigade authorities as saying that those affected had suffered “cardiac arrest”.
Police have cordoned off the area in Seoul’s Itaewon district, and social media videos show people lying on the street.
