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36 killed, 47 injured in New Year stampede in Shanghai

(chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2015-01-01 03:00

36 killed, 47 injured in New Year stampede in Shanghai
Chenyi Square in Shanghai[Photo/Baidu Map]

36 killed, 47 injured in New Year stampede in Shanghai
Chenyi Square in Shanghai[Photo/Baidu Map]

Backgrounder

Chen Yi square, the site of the stampede, is named after Chinese military strategist Chen Yi. Born in Lezhi county, Sichuan province in 1901, Chen passed away in 1972. He was one of the founding leaders of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Chen worked as mayor of Shanghai from 1949 to 1958.

10:10

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday underscored safety for public places, particularly during holidays.

Li said to "make every effort" to reduce injury-related deaths and console relatives after a stampede during a New Year celebration in downtown Shanghai, adding that strict precautions should be taken against major incidents and public safety and social stability should be ensured.

9:50

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday asked an immediate investigation on the cause of a stampede during a New Year celebration in downtown Shanghai and urged to prevent such incidents from happening again.

9:45

The number of injured rose to 48.

9:30

Chinese President Xi Jinping has said that all efforts should be taken to treat the injured from the Shanghai stampede accident, and that authorities should strengthen public security measures during the holidays to ensure the safety of people and their property. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has asked all efforts to be taken to reduce deaths and injuries from the stampede.

8:40

A witness surnamed Yin recalled what she saw during the stampede to Xinhua saying that people hooted and shouted during the whole thing. According to Yin, someone shouted a few times on a platform full of people. She said that at some point the crowd began to move and people started to push each other. "Layers upon layers" of people began to fall on top of each other, Yin recalled.

"As soon as the crowd stirred, I rushed to protect the two children in front of me. Later I turned around for my son, but he had been pushed off the platform," Yin told Xinhua. "When he was rescued, his head was covered in his coat; there was bruise on his forehead and two deep-creased scars in his neck. Blood came out from his mouth and nose. Black footprints were all over his clothes."

8:01

The cause of the stampede is under investigation. Beijing Youth Daily urged no speculation.

7:11

Shanghai-based The Paper reported that coupons that looked like US dollars were thrown from the 18th floor of a high-rise building for about three minutes before the stampede happened. Wu Tao, who saved an injured woman, told The Paper that the coupons led to temporary chaos on the ground.

6:32

The number of injured rose to 43.

6:20, Thursday

Most of the injured are students, Xinhua reported on its Weibo.

36 killed, 47 injured in New Year stampede in Shanghai

SHANGHAI - At least 36 people were killed and 47 others injured in a stampede at Shanghai's Bund area around midnight when huge crowds of revelers gathered to celebrate the new year. 36 killed, 47 injured in New Year stampede in Shanghai

The tragedy happened at 11:35 pm on the Chenyi Square of Huangpu District, around the Bund, a busy waterfront area in central Shanghai.

Shanghai authorities are working actively to rescue and aid the wounded, said the official website of the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality. What caused the stampede is still under investigation.

One week before the new year, Shanghai authorities canceled the city's annual New Year's Eve 3D laser display, which attracted nearly 300,000 people last year, due to crowd-control issues, CCTV news was quoted as saying.

A toned-down version of the celebration was held at several locations in the city instead.

36 killed, 47 injured in New Year stampede in Shanghai


 

36 killed, 47 injured in New Year stampede in Shanghai

Shanghai Party chief Han Zheng (C) arrives at a hospital where people injured in a stampede receives treatment. [Photo/Xinmin Evening News]

36 killed, 47 injured in New Year stampede in Shanghai
More photos about Shanghai stampede

36 killed, 47 injured in New Year stampede in Shanghai
Footage released by The Paper shows rescue work after the stampede. (53 seconds, external link in Chinese)

 

 

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