Minute by Minute Itaewon Tragedy
October 29th
5 - 9 pm
October 29th
5 - 9 pm
Protest / Rallies near the Yongsan Presidential Office. According to Hyung-jin Kim (Associated Press), 7,000 police officers deployed here. First ever reported by Hankyoreh, only 137 police officers deployed to Itaewon, and only 58 officers in uniforms. According new investigation by New York Times, at least 52 were detectives specializing in drug crimes.
(I was created Itaewon substack. For new substack, specific minute by minute, thanks latest investigation by Washington Post. Several scenes added because new investigation by WaPo)
(Photo: Sergeant Kim Baek-gyeom)
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5 pm - October 30th
Ryu Mi-jin, lead for Seoul Metropolitan Police Situation Room desk, not in 5th floor of the Situation Room. She insists in her own office on the 10th floor. She was reportedly notified about the incident in Itaewon around 11.40 pm
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6.28 pm
Crowd in Itaewon gradually became dangerously (*the minute according latest investigation by Washington Post)
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6.34 pm
First SOS / plea to help by some caller to dispatcher (112) about chaos of crowd in Itaewon
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Around 6.45 pm - 7.50 pm
Only 11 officers from the Itaewon police station were on duty, according to Lee Hyungseok, an opposition lawmaker who reviewed police records. 3 of them is Sergeant Kim Baek-gyeom, Police Box officer in Yongsan-seo & 2 his junior arrived in the crowd. Trying to help along night
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Around 7-7.15 pm
According to Hankyoreh, a woman shouted and (unexpectedly) guided a chaotic crowd to be calm. Prevent a stampede disaster.
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Around 7 - 8.08 pm
A spare time between 1st SOS (6.34 pm) until the 2nd SOS (8.09 pm).
According to two journos, (1) Raphael Rashid and also (2) Michelle Ye Hee Lee (Seoul - Tokyo Bureau Chief of The Washington Post), at least on 7 - 8 pm the situation remains calm.
Michelle tweeted 2x times: 7.06 pm and 7.07 pm.
Raphael make sure that he photographed alley on 7.25 pm
Then, after 8 pm, the crowd chaotic again so emergency 112 received 2nd - 11th call - plea for help
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8.09 pm
Second SOS / plea to help by some caller to dispatcher (112)
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8.33 pm
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Third SOS / plea to help by some caller to dispatcher (112)
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8.37 pm
First SOS / plea to help by some caller to dispatcher 119 (not 112) —- according New York Times. The case were closed after those dispatchers spoke to the callers.
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8.53 pm
Fourth SOS / plea to help by some caller to dispatcher (112)
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9.00 pm
Fifth SOS / plea to help by some caller to dispatcher (112)
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9.00 pm
Rallies near the Yongsan Presidential Office ended
9.01 pm
Second SOS / plea to help by some caller to dispatcher 119 (not 112) —- according New York Times. The case, again. were closed after those dispatchers spoke to the callers.
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Around 9 pm - 10 pm
Yongsan-gu Chief Lee Im-jae had dinner in a restaurant after the Protests / Rallies in Yongsan ended. He had been having dinner with officers from his office.
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9.02 pm
Sixth SOS / plea to help by some caller to dispatcher (112)
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9.07 pm
Seventh SOS / plea to help by some caller to dispatcher (112)
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9.10 pm
Eighth SOS / plea to help by some caller to dispatcher (112)
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9.30 pm
Yongsan-gu Chief Lee Im-jae notified about the situation around 9.30 pm (*no detail the format, call or text message, and the name officer who had contacted Chief Lee Im-jae)
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9.51 pm
Ninth SOS / plea to help by some caller to dispatcher (112)
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10.00 pm
Tenth SOS / plea to help by some caller to dispatcher (112)
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10.00 pm
Yongsan-gu Chief Lee Im-jae arrived at Noksapyeong Station at around 10 pm. The station is located just 10 minutes by foot from the scene. He had insisted on moving by his car despite a heavy traffic jam.
However, Lee's car detoured from the subway station to find other ways, and he was only able to arrive at a street near the police substation around between 10.55 pm. and 11.01 pm.
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10.08 pm
People began screaming
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10.11 pm
Eleventh SOS / plea to help by some caller to dispatcher (112)
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10.15 pm - 10.17 pm
Tragic Stampede happens. (Additional 10.17 pm according Washington Post)
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10.15 pm
Third SOS / plea to help by some caller to dispatcher 119 (not 112) —- according New York Times. For the first time (after 3rd call), finally got the authorities’ attention. Emergency call reporting that people were dying or stampede in the Itaewon crowd crush.
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10.18 pm
The National Fire Agency calls to Police, every level, at 10.18 pm
The National fire agency made 15 calls to the National Police Agency, Seoul Metropolitan Police Station and Yongsan Police Station, asking for more officers to be deployed in Itaewon. But the law enforcement authorities did not respond promptly.
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10.20 pm
Log radio communication (LRC)
“Many people are piled on top of each other, and it’s very crowded.”
“Please urge for additional dispatch of police officers.”
(*this log, and another with code "LRC", because (another lawmaker) Rep. Lee Sung-man of the main opposition Democratic Party. He released the transcripts of the recordings he received from the Seoul Emergency Operations Center.)
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10.22 pm
People were already massed on top of each other at the most jammed point of the alley.
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10.23 pm
LRC
“There’s been a report that about 10 people are pinned down.”
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10.24 pm
LRC
“Most reports say (people) may be crushed to death.”
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10.29 pm
The response commander ordered (*according Washington Post)
10.29 pm
LRC
“We’re having difficulty (approaching the scene) by vehicle. The team is moving on foot.”
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10.31 pm
LRC
“We’ve received reports there are three people who lost consciousness, and there may be more. We got more than 30 reports.”
“About 30 people collapsed in the alley right next to the Hamilton Hotel. No sight of the ambulance as of now.”
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10.34 pm
No emergency personnel had yet reached the northernmost section of the crush.
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10.39 pm
5 Firefighters and 4 Police Officers (beside Sergeant Kim Baek-gyeom and 2 his juniors) finally visible.
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10.41 pm
LRC
“(The rescue team) needs to approach the alley by entering the front entrance of the Hamilton Hotel and exiting through the backdoor. About 15 (people) are doing CPR, but we’re short on support. All team members, hurry.”
“There are about 15 that have collapsed here, and we’re doing CPR. It’s urgent.”
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10.42 pm
Firefighters reported their first official contact with victims, urgently asking for help, according New York Times
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10.48 pm
The narcotics detectives — who did not catch a single drug user that night — were redirected to rescue efforts, according to the police. According to New York Times.
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10.50 pm
LRC
“We need more people at the back alley, much more”
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10.55 pm
Local Media and several journo (both local or foreign who hang out / celebrate Halloween coincidentally in Itaewon) started reporting fatalities. At least 3 were dead.
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10.55 pm
LRC
“The No. 1 exit (of Itaewon Station) near Hamilton Hotel entrance is out of control, and (the rescue team) can’t get in. Ask the police to dispatch additional officers.”
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10.56 pm
The response commander ordered.
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10.56 pm
LRC
“All team members come to the back (of the hotel). There’s been a massive surge in patients in need of resuscitation.”
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10.58 pm
LRC
“Team members should head to the back of the Hamilton Hotel as soon as they arrive. We should pick up the people in order to rescue those in the front."
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11.00 pm
LRC
“There are 30 people doing CPR (on the patients) at the back of the (hotel) building. We are short on officers. Citizens are helping out with CPR. There are over 30, 30!”
“Thirty people are completely unconscious. We need more people here.”
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11.01 pm
President Yoon Seok-yeol learned about the disaster for first time.
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11.01 pm
Yongsan-gu Chief Lee Im-jae parking his car in Police Box / Police Substation nearest Hamilton Hotel / nearest Itaewon (*a Police Box where Sergeant Kim Baek-gyeom came from)
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11.05 pm
Yongsan-gu Chief Lee Im-jae arrived at the scene (Itaewon, alley near Hamilton). 50 Minutes after the stampede happens.
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11.05 pm
The chief of the Yongsan Fire Station, Choi Seong-beom assumed command of the rescue operation, requesting for an additional rescue team and ordering his team to move immediately to the back of the hotel.
“All teams head back to the Hamilton Hotel. There are so many patients (in need of) CPR, we can’t even count them,” he said.
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11.16 pm
LRC
“Except for those who are conscious, can talk, or show movement, please stop CPR,” a rescue team member said, reminding others to focus the rescue attempt on those with chances of survival.
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11.20 pm
Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Interior and Safety, learned about the disaster for first time.
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11.22 pm
Rescuers finally can manage to pull all the injured and unconscious from the alley and start to triage CPR on Itaewon-Ro and adjacent area.
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11.30 pm
Already aired by local media that 20 dead so far about the stampede.
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11.32 pm
Officer at the agency's emergency situation room sent a text message to South Korea National Police Agency (NPA) Commissioner Yoon Hee-keun / Yoon Hee-geun at 11.32 pm
Yoon, not on duty that day, was at camping site (Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, 120 km from Seoul)
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11.34 pm
First attempt by Yongsan-gu Chief Lee Im-jae called his commander, Kim Kwang-ho, (Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency), but he didn’t answer.
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11.36 pm
Second attempt Yongsan-gu Chief Lee Im-jae called his commander, Kim Kwang-ho, (Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency), Commissioner Kim answered.
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11.39 pm
Superintendent Ryu Mi-jin gave an alert to Seoul police Kim Kwang-ho (Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency) only after 11.39 pm
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11.40 pm
First Squad Police (following the presence of Sergeant Kim Baek-gyeom and his 2 juniors), arrived. 85 Minutes after stampede. According New York Times, the 1st batch (specific) Police Officers for Crowd Control.
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11.41 pm
The first call was made via the inter-government agency communication network at 11.41 pm
1 Hour & 26 minutes after stampede.
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11.50 pm
Second Squad Police specific Crowd Control (following the presence of Sergeant Kim Baek-gyeom and his 2 juniors; and 1st squad from 11.40 pm), arrived. 95 Minutes after stampede.
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11.50 pm
Officer at the agency's emergency situation room made a phone call to South Korea National Police Agency (NPA) Commissioner Yoon Hee-keun / Yoon Hee-geun.
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11.55 pm
First message - emergency alert about situation (tragic stampede) in Itaewon. A message broadcast is being sent to every mobile phone in Yongsan District telling people to go home ASAP due to the emergency situation near Hamilton Hotel.
(Again) already aired by local media that 20 dead so far about the stampede.
====================
October 30th
0.04 am
Second emergency message broadcast
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Around 0.05 am - 1.13 am
3rd and 4th Squad Police arrived at Itaewon
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0.05 am
Both Local Media and Foreign Media (NHK, AFP, AP, BBC, etc) reported that 50-59 fatalities in Itaewon
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0.11 am
Third emergency message broadcast
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0.11 am
A total of eight units of Conscripted Policemen were ordered to be dispatched to the scene at 0.11 am. on Oct. 30, the data showed. The role of conscripted policeman is to support police officers in various tasks such as street patrol.
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0.14 am
South Korea Police Agency Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun / Yoon Hee-keun received first report
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0.14 am
Yoon Hee-geun / Yoon Hee-keun returned to Seoul after responding to a phone call at 0.14 am
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0.25 am
Chief Seoul Metropolitan Police, Commissioner Kim Kwang-ho arrived at the scene of the accident
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0.50 am
Both Local Media and Foreign Media reported that at least 120 fatalities in Itaewon
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0.50 am
First batch of Conscripted Policemen arrived. 2 Hours 35 minutes after stampede.
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0.51 am; 1.37 am; 2.53 am; 3.09 am
Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh emergency message broadcast
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0.55 am - 1.12 am
2nd Batch - 8th Batch of Conscripted Policemen arrived
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1.14 am
Fifth Squad / the final squad police officers arrived at the scene
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2.30 am
(NPA) Commissioner Yoon Hee-keun / Yoon Hee-geun convened a response meeting around 2.30 am.
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6.53 am
Both Local Media and Foreign Media reported that at least 149 fatalities in Itaewon
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Around 9 am
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol went to the scene (alley in near Hamilton)
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10.43 am (12 HOURS AFTER STAMPEDE)
Both Local Media and Foreign Media reported that at least 151 fatalities in Itaewon
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Around 3 pm - 3.30 pm
Mayor of Seoul Oh Se-hoon has arrived back in South Korea, after abruptly cancelling his business trip in Europe (Lausanne, IOC headquarter, for Summer Olympics 2036 bid) and taking the first flight back to Seoul.
Not sure if twitter’s gonna be around much longer, join my substack to keep in touch (*was in English, German, Francais, Turkiye, Indonesian language. More / Planning: Italy, Dutch)
