The Australian woman’s family has paid tribute to “our life of the party” after she died in a fatal crowd crush on Halloween in central Seoul.
Following the tremendous crowd rush that trapped hundreds, authorities have officially identified the woman as Grace Rached, the lone verified Australian death among more than 150 fatalities.
133 individuals were hurt in the tragedy, and most of the fatalities were people in their 20s.
According to information provided to the ABC, two injured people are dual citizens and an Australian who is in intensive care.
Ms. Rached, a 23-year-old Sydney native, was employed by Electriclime Films as a production assistant.
She was one of the around 100,000 people who had congregated in the Itaewon neighborhood on Saturday night when a crowd crush occurred.
The crush started in the congested, inclining lanes close to the Hamilton Hotel shortly after 10:20 o’clock.
The ex-pat-friendly neighborhood is renowned for its vibrant nightlife, pubs, clubs, and eateries.
Since COVID-19 restrictions there were released, people had rushed to the area for the largest outdoor Halloween celebrations in the nation.
As the horror unfolded, survivors uploaded on social media, showing people struggling to breathe and one man scaling a wall in an attempt to flee.
In a statement, Ms. Rached’s family expressed their loss for “our darling angel Grace, who brightened up a room with her contagious smile.”
They stated, “Grace always gave everyone a sense of importance, and her kindness left an imprint on everyone she ever encountered.
“She cared deeply about her two sisters and was a wonderful role model,” they said.
“We will all deeply miss our beautiful Grace, our life of the party.”
The family expressed gratitude for everyone’s support but requested discretion at this trying time.
According to her Facebook profile, Ms. Rached studied a Bachelor of Communications and International Studies at the University of Technology in Sydney.
The actual cause of the crushing incident is still under investigation, according to South Korean authorities.
Prior to this, a pop concern tragedy in 2005 that resulted in 11 fatalities and approximately 60 injuries was the deadliest crushing disaster in South Korea’s history.
President Yoon Suk-yeol of South Korea has proclaimed a day of national mourning in honor of the nation’s worst calamity in recent memory.
Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, sent his condolences and asked any Australians living in Seoul to make sure their friends and family were safe.
