At least 36 killed in crush at Chinese city's
riverfront as witnesses say they rushed to catch
money thrown from a nightclub
A New Year’s celebration on Shanghai’s famous Bund
that turned into a stampede has left at least 36 people
dead, authorities say - the worst disaster to hit
China's biggest city in recent years.
More than 40 people were also injured as hundreds
of thousands of revellers crammed on to the Bund,
Shanghai's colonial-era riverfront promenade, for the
annual light show.Early reports said the crowd surged to catch bank-
notes thrown from an upper-floor window of a nearby
building, believed to be the smart Bund 18 nightclub,
to create excitement. The notes were made to look
like US dollars but were in fact coupons.
China’s state news agency Xinhua said the results
“went astray”.
Shanghai’s Bund, which was once China's financial
centre and many of whose pre-1949 Art Deco
buildings have been converted into high-end
boutiques and restaurants, is one of the most famous
riverside attractions in China, and a traditional
gathering place for celebrations.
But there have been previous concerns about
overcrowding, and this year's laser show was
supposed to have been cancelled.
“There were too many people on the Bund platform,”
one person said. “The crowd began to evacuate and
suddenly there was a stampede. Those who fainted
were directly stomped on. Some were vomiting
blood.”
Most victims were “young people in their 20s”,
authorities announced. The youngest was said to be
16.
One reporter from the Southern Weekly newspaper
said that he was approaching the Bund at around
11.30 when the incident began.
He thought about leaving but “it was very difficult
already… women and babies’ crying could be heard,
and anxiety was spreading. Someone tripped on the
stairwell, and panic spread."
The reporter eventually made his escape by climbing
on to a rubbish bin and scrambling up a six foot-high
wall.
Most of the victims died as the crush enveloped the
area. Witnesses said they heard people shouting
"Back off", and that after ten minutes the crowd
calmed and receded to allow rescue teams in.
Cui Tingting, 27, said she had picked up some of the
bank notes but had thrown them away when she
realised they were not real.
"It's too cruel. People in front of us had already fallen
to the floor, and others were stepping all over them,"
she said.China’s president Xi Jinping ordered local officials to
“treat the injured with all disposable forces and take
care of the aftermath” while the prime minister, Li
Keqiang, urged authorities to “comfort the families
and strengthen security at crowded places.”
Even as emergency crews attempted to rescue
survivors, China’s censors attempted to prevent non-
official views of the tragedy emerging, and emphasize
the role of authorities.
On social media, users speculated about the reasons
for the disaster, while images of victims receiving
emergency treatment were deleted.
Others blamed local politicians for the disaster: “This
was last year’s National Holiday. Why can’t Shanghai
learn from it? Shanghai’s Party Secretary should
kneel down and apologize,” was a popular question.
Others questioned the figure for the number of dead,
which was initially given by state media as 35.
“Thirty-five, what a magical number,” a writer noted,
referring to a Chinese urban legend that claims any
death toll above this refers a Party Secretary to the
central disciplinary authorities. “Thirty-five dead in
the Shanghai stampede, 35 killed in the Wenzhou
high-speed train accident, 35 dead in the Henan coal
mine accident and in the storm in Yunnan.”
The figure was subsequently updated to 36. Source::::::::http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/11320016/Dozens-killed-in-Shanghai-New-Years-Eve-stampede.html

RIP

RIP

Chinese population is just too much

RIP.To think that they died just for coupons smh and some would realize they stepped on someone but won't try to help the person or even check to see if the person is hurt...the love of money

Just Coupons?

Too bad.. RIP to em anywayz