A University of Kentucky student, Anne Gieske, is among the victims, the school's president announced in a statement.
Medical staff attend to a person on a stretcher at the scene where many people died and were injured in a stampede during a Halloween festival in Seoul, South Korea, Oct. 30, 2022.At least 153 people are dead and 82 are injured after being crushed in a crowd during Halloween festivities in Seoul, officials in South Korea said, as the death toll in the tragedy continues to rise.
"We have been in contact with Anne's family and will provide whatever support we can -- now and in the days ahead -- as they cope with this indescribable loss," he added. "We will be there for those in our community who knew and loved Anne. We also have nearly 80 students from South Korea at UK -- members of our community -- who will need our support."
The casualties occurred Saturday night in the Itaewon leisure district, when a large crowd pushed forward in the area's narrow alleys, according to witnesses.The incident was first reported around 10:20 p.m. local time, officials said. It took time for rescue crews to respond due to the large crowds.
"It's the first time since the pandemic that we've been able to actually just go out," she said. "Itaewon is famous for being really crowded, but this was just a level I'd never seen before."