Xi sends condolences to S Korean president over stampede in Seoul

Videos and pictures on social media showed people struggling to breathe, lying in the streets and on stretchers. In others, bodies were lined up along the street covered in blankets or were being carried to ambulances.

The Chinese embassy in the ROK confirmed on Sunday that four Chinese nationals had been killed in the stampede. Other foreign victims included people from Iran, Norway, Uzbekistan and Japan.

The embassy said it immediately activated an emergency response mechanism, contacted the ROK side overnight to learn about the cause of the accident and the nationalities of the victims, and paid close attention to the internet and social media platforms to see if any Chinese nationals were seeking help.

The Chinese embassy has offered condolences and will provide assistance to the families of the deceased, it added.

On Sunday, ROK President Yoon declared a period of national mourning that will last until Saturday, while sending his condolences to families of the victims. He called for officials to review the safety of sites for festivities and ensure swift treatment for the injured.

During the mourning period, all public institutions and diplomatic offices of the ROK will fly flags at half-staff, and civil servants and employees of public institutions will wear ribbons to express their condolences, local authorities said.