2014 Shanghai stampede
On 31 December 2014, a deadly crush occurred in Shanghai, near Chen Yi Square on the Bund, where around 300,000 people had gathered for the new year celebration. 36 people were killed and another 49 were injured, 13 seriously.[1]
Cause
The incident began at about 23:35 local time on New Year's Eve. The crush centered on a stairway leading up to a viewing platform overlooking the river. Some people were trying to climb to the platform while others were trying to go down, causing panic and confusion.[2][3] People standing on the steps to the viewing platform began to fall down the stairs, collapsing into each other.[4]
There were reports that a planned New Year's light show had been canceled at the last minute and that the crowd control measures required for such a show were not in place.[5]
Rumors of cash coupons
External videos | |
---|---|
Video (in Chinese) |
Early reports stated that people were throwing cash coupons resembling U.S. dollars into the crowd.[6] One of the victims stated that cash coupons were thrown onto the street from a bar and that several of the people had rushed to grab them.[7] However, the Shanghai police later denied social media reports that the stampede was triggered by people stopping to pick up coupons, saying that "video footage showed that the bills had been thrown after the crush took place".[3] An 18-year-old witness told news portal Sina: "I've seen people saying that the stampede happened because people were throwing fake money. But I don't think that's the main reason — there was so much distance, there's no way the money could have blown over to the viewing platform."[2]
Rescue
At approximately 23:50, people started to realize the danger and began to retreat from the crowd.[8] The police at the scene also started to instruct people to evacuate from the second level. At 23:55, police and citizens had formed a wall to make way for ambulances.[8][9] The injured were then sent to local hospitals.[8]
After the accident, the government of Shanghai formed a working group to coordinate the rescue, led by mayor Yang Xiong.[10]
The identities of all victims have been confirmed, according to the local government.[11] The youngest victim was 12 years old.[11]
As a result of the stampede, similar New Year celebration events on 31 December 2015 were cancelled.[citation needed]
Response
Central government
President and General Secretary of the Communist Party Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang ordered the Shanghai government to "go all out" in its rescue efforts.[12] On 1 January, Xi and Li called for an immediate investigation into the source of the accident.[12] Xi Jinping also said a profound lesson should be learned from the incident.[12]
Shanghai government
The local government cancelled all New Year celebration activities on 1 January, including the New Year's marathon and Shanghai Tower light show.[13][14] Guyi Garden, Fangta Garden and Yu Garden's Lantern Festival were also cancelled.[15] On the morning of the 1st, citizens mourned for the victims at the Bund.[16]
Media
This stampede was front page on local newspapers on the morning of 1 January.[17][18] The media needed to seek authorization for reporting this news, which was impossible to obtain at midnight.[19] The official WeChat account of local government released relevant news at 9 a.m. the next day.[20]
Media reports indicated that the cancellation of a planned light show led to a reduction in the number of police assigned to the event, resulting in only 700 police officers (as compared to 6000 in 2013) at the scene. However, the crowd was no smaller than in previous years, possibly because a scaled-down version of the light show was being held at different venue with a similar name.[4]
Media outlets have faced criticism for publishing personal information posted online by victims or their families.[5]
See also
- 1987 Shanghai stampede
References
- ^ "Shanghai new year crush kills 35". BBC News. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
- ^ a b "Shanghai: dozens killed and injured in stampede at new year celebrations". The Guardian. 1 January 2015.
- ^ a b "Shanghai crush: Xi Jinping orders new year investigation". BBC. 2 January 2015.
- ^ a b "Sequence of errors led to Shanghai stampede". Washington Post.
- ^ a b "Shanghai Stampede: Chinese Media Criticized Amid Conflicting Reports And Confusion". International Business Times. 3 January 2015.
- ^ 上海踩踏事故原因仍在调查中 确认有人现场撒钱 (in Chinese). 中国新闻网. 中国广播网. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ^ Jourdan, Adam (1 January 2014). "Shanghai New Year's Eve stampede kills 35 after fake money thrown from building". Reuters. Shanghai. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ^ a b c 上海外滩踩踏事故时间还原 (in Chinese). Netease. 1 January 2015.
- ^ 上海外滩踩踏现场:有人自发手拉手维持秩序 (in Chinese). Tencent. 1 January 2015. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
- ^ 上海成立工作组处置外滩踩踏事件 (in Chinese). Government of Shanghai. 1 January 2015. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
- ^ a b 上海外滩踩踏事件36位遇难者名单全部公布. People's Daily (in Chinese). 3 January 2015.
- ^ a b c "Xi demands immediate investigation into Shanghai stampede" (in Chinese). Xinhuanet. 2 January 2015. Archived from the original on 2 January 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
- ^ 杨静 (1 January 2015). "外滩陈毅广场发生踩踏事件 上海取消元旦所有跨年活动". Eastday.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ^ 外滩陈毅广场发生踩踏事件 上海取消元旦所有跨年活动 (in Chinese). Xinhuanet. 1 January 2015. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
- ^ Xinmin Evening News (10 January 2015). "本市取消豫园等三大灯会". Netease. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
- ^ 上海市民自发在外滩祭奠逝者. People's Daily (in Chinese). 1 January 2015.
- ^ 东方早报 - 2015年1月1日 - 封面
- ^ 文汇报 - 2015年1月1日 - 封面
- ^ "上海踩踏事件敲响纸媒丧钟". 163.com. 3 January 2015. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
- ^ 上海发布 - 外滩陈毅广场昨夜发生拥挤踩踏事故,致数十人伤亡
External links
- Special report on NetEase
- v
- t
- e
- 1807 Newgate Prison
- 1823 Valletta
- 1876 Brooklyn Theatre
- 1883 Victoria Hall
- 1896 Khodynka
- 1902 Shiloh Baptist Church
- 1903 Iroquois Theatre
- 1908 Barnsley Hall
- 1913 Italian Hall
- 1927 Laurier Palace
- 1943 Bethnal Green
- 1946 Burnden Park
- 1954 Kumbh Mela
- 1964 Estadio Nacional
- 1965 El Progreso Bullring
- 1967 Atatürk Stadium
- 1971 Ibrox
- 1974 Zamalek
- 1977 Xinjiang 61st Regiment Farm
- 1979 The Who concert
- 1981 Karaiskakis Stadium
- 1982 Luzhniki
- 1985 Heysel Stadium
- 1987 Shanghai Lujiazui
- 1988 Dasharath Stadium
- 1989 Tbilisi
- 1989 Hillsborough
- 1990 Mecca
- 1991 Oppenheimer Stadium
- 1992 Mahamaham
- 1992 Bastia
- 1993 Lan Kwai Fong
- 1994 Mecca
- 1994 Gowari
- 1996 Haridwar and Ujjain
- 1997 Uphaar Cinema
- 1998 Mecca
- 1999 Sabarimala
- 1999 Nyamiha (Minsk)
- 2000 Throb nightclub disaster
- 2001 Mecca
- 2001 Ellis Park Stadium
- 2001 Accra Sports Stadium
- 2001 Akashi pedestrian bridge
- 2003 E2 nightclub
- 2003 The Station nightclub
- 2004 Mecca
- 2004 Miyun
- 2005 Mandher Devi temple
- 2005 Al-Aaimmah bridge
- 2005 Chennai (November)
- 2005 Chennai (December)
- 2006 Mecca
- 2006 PhilSports Stadium
- 2008 Bandung
- 2008 Naina Devi temple
- 2008 Jodhpur
- 2009 Houphouët-Boigny
- 2009 Mawazine
- 2010 Kor Royal Cup
- 2010 Pratapgarh
- 2010 Love Parade
- 2010 Phnom Penh
- 2011 Sabarimala
- 2012 Port Said Stadium
- 2012 Satsanga Deoghar
- 2013 Houphouët-Boigny
- 2013 Kiss nightclub
- 2013 Kumbh Mela
- 2013 Madhya Pradesh
- 2014 Mumbai
- 2014 Stade Tata Raphaël
- 2014 Patna
- 2014 Multan
- 2014 Kwekwe
- 2014 Shanghai Bund
- 2015 30 June Stadium
- 2015 Haiti
- 2015 Mina
- 2015 Colectiv nightclub
- 2017 Turin
- 2017 Mumbai
- 2018 Caracas
- 2018 Corinaldo
- 2019 Antananarivo
- 2019 Karbala
- 2019 Caracas
- 2020 Kerman
- 2020 Maligawatta
- 2020 Los Olivos
- 2021 Meron
- 2021 Astroworld Festival
- 2022 Vaishno Devi Temple
- 2022 Yaoundé
- 2022 Port Harcourt
- 2022 GBLA Stadium
- 2022 Giza
- 2022 Kanjuruhan Stadium
- 2022 Seoul
- 2023 Arabian Gulf Cup
- 2023 Pakistan
- 2023 Sanaa
- 2023 San Salvador
- 2023 Brazzaville