Shanghai stampede update: Gov’t calls off mass-gathering events #Shanghai government has urgently called off events involving mass-gatherings in the city, after 36 were killed and 49 injured in a tragic #stampede during the New Year Eve’s celebration on Shanghai’s famous #Bund. On the last evening of 2014, people were gathering on the Bund, prepared for a big light show that has been hosted there for 3 years in a row. What they didn’t know is that, this year’s show had changed locations and required tickets. The news was reported by some local media a week ahead, but without being fully aware, people all thronged to the site. #Tragedy then happened at about 11:35pm, when a group of people lost their balance at Chen Yi Square due to #push and #squeeze. According to a staff from the control station of the Bund, the number of the visitors that night by far exceeded the 300,000 limit. But in comparison there were only 1,200 police. Police officer Cai Lixin admitted a misjudgment of visitor flow and a lack of security measures and crowd control. The #incident has triggered urgent calls for Shanghai to implement safety control over popular events, while an increasing number of tourists are being attracted to the rapidly developing metropolis. As reported by local media Xinmin Evening News, in addition to canceling the major activities on New Year’s Day, Shanghai has also called off all mass-gathering events in the near future. In Putuo District, a local dialect competition was suspended; malls were asked to cancel the celebration activities during the New Year holiday; Shanghai’s Guyi Garden has also canceled a lantern show that has been held annually on Lantern Festival. Meanwhile, the city has also enhanced safety measures. In places with large amounts of human traffic, such as Xujiahui and Shanghai train station, more personnel have been sent to organize the flow and examine the safety infrastructures. In Lujiazui, the government has also added signs to guide people into different directions, so as to prevent over-crowdedness.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 03:18:00 +0000
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