Seoul mayor cuts short visit to Europe after Itaewon stampede
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in a car leaves Rotterdam to return home earlier than scheduled after a deadly stampede at the Itaewon district in Seoul that killed 149 people, Oct 29. Yonhap
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon cut short his trip to Europe and was on his way back home after the deadly crush at the Itaewon district that killed 149 people during Halloween festivities, his office said Sunday.
Oh had been on an 11-day trip since Oct. 21 that took him to major cities in France, Switzerland, Spain and the Netherlands for visits to key city development sites and a global meeting of Olympic host cities.
Ambulances and rescue workers arrive near the scene in Seoul, Korea, Oct. 30. AP
While in Rotterdam, Oh was briefed over the phone by the chief of Seoul's fire department on the Itaewon accident and decided to cut his trip short and return home.
He also instructed his city officials over the phone to set up an emergency headquarters to deal with the aftermath and do their best in handling the case swiftly, according to his office.
Oh was initially set to return Monday. (Yonhap)