South Korean President Yoon visits site of stampede

STORY: Yoon declared a period of national mourning after a Halloween crush killed mostly teenagers and young adults in a packed nightlife area in Seoul, promising "top priority in state affairs in recovery and follow-up measures of the incident" in a separate televised statement.

A huge crowd celebrating in the popular Itaewon district surged into an alley on Saturday (October 29) night, emergency officials said, adding the death toll could rise.

A further 76 people were injured in the melee, Choi Sung-beom, head of the Yongsan Fire Station, said in a briefing at the scene.

Nineteen of the injured were in serious condition and receiving emergency treatment, the officials said.