Around 50 people have suffered cardiac arrest and some are feared dead after a stampede in the South Korean capital of Seoul.
The victims were crushed by a large crowd pushing forward on a narrow street during Halloween festivities near the Hamilton Hotel in the Itaewon area.
Footage on social media showed many victims lying on the pavement as bystanders used CPR in an effort to revive them.
KBS, South Korea’s national broadcaster, said two people had been confirmed dead.
Choi Cheon-sik, an official from the National Fire Agency, said around 100 people were reported as injured, including 50 people suffering from cardiac arrest.
More than 400 emergency workers from around the country have been deployed, including almost all those available in Seoul, he added.
Seoul’s mayor Oh Se-hoon is visiting Europe but has decided to return home following the news.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said in a statement that officials should ensure swift treatment for those injured and review the safety of the festivity sites.
He also instructed the Health Ministry to swiftly deploy disaster medical assistance teams and secure beds in nearby hospitals to treat the injured.
Local media said around 100,000 people came to Itaewon for the Halloween festivities, which were the biggest in years following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in recent months.