Kuya Kim shares experience in Itaewon stampede: ‘Hindi kami makatulog lahat nung gabing 'yun’

Kuya Kim Atienza gave a firsthand account of the stampede that happened in Itaewon on Halloween weekend.

The news personality and the “Dapat Alam Mo!” team were in the Seoul neighborhood to cover the world-famous Halloween parade as part of the show’s first anniversary.

“But because of what happened here in Korea, nag-shift kami into hard news. Nag-shift kami into tragedy, into a disaster coverage,” the broadcaster said on "Unang Hirit."

Kuya Kim described the Itaewon train station, where there is a very narrow alley that sloped downwards. This is on the way to Main Itaewon Avenue where the parade was held.

According to Kuya Kim, there was already a huge crowd, so attendees were gathered in the small alley.

“Punong puno ng tao, talagang hindi na mahuhulugan ng karayom dun sa gitna ng tao,” he said.

Called a crowd crush, it is when “hindi makausad yung nasa harapan at parami nang parami ang tao dun sa likuran, so naipit nang naipit nang naipit at nawalan na ng hininga. Inatake na sa puso,” Kuya Kim said.

“And most of the 153 na namatay ay nandoon sa pinaka harap ng eskinita. Ganun yung nangyari. So dahan-dahan silang nawalan ng hininga, inatake sa puso.”

He added that there were about 20 ambulances that arrived. “Ang na-witness namin nung isang gabi, talagang napakaraming kabataan ang binibigyan ng CPR ng mga medical staff na dumating.”

“Nakita namin kung paano nababawian ng buhay itong mga batang ito sa isang masayang event sana doon sa Itaewon.”

When the crowd in the alley started to disperse and people were already able to move, “it was too late.”

He said, “Ang nakita namin ay patong-patong na katawan na. Yung mga nasa ilalim, talagang nabawian na ng buhay. At yung mga bandang nasa ibabaw, hinihila ng mga pulis para ma-revive. Hindi nila mahila dahil naipit ng compressed na tao na sobrang dami.”

There was also no crowd control. Kuya Kim added that even while that was happening, people were still going to the alley without knowing that there was a crowd.

“Hindi nila alam na wala nang daraanan at namamatay na yung mga tao dun sa harap ng eskinita.”

According to Kuya Kim, there were even some parties that were still ongoing in other parts of the area.

“It was so surreal. Ang feeling namin [ng staff] ng ‘Dapat Alam Mo!’ parang panaginip. First time kaming nakakita ng ganung klaseng pangyayari sa buong buhay namin, at hindi kami makatulog lahat nung gabing yun,” he said.

It is the first Halloween event in Itaewon in three years without COVID-19 restrictions. There were around 100,000 attendees with 153 deaths so far, 26 of whom are foreigners.

According to Kuya Kim, South Korea declared a national week of mourning until November 5 with their flags at half-mast. Concerts and other recreational events were suspended temporarily. — LA, GMA News