Families of loved ones killed in a Shanghai, China New Year's Eve stampede are angry at authorities for not preventing the tragedy and for giving false information in the aftermath.
A large, tightly-packed crowd had gathered in Shanghai's Chen Yi Square to watch a laser show and celebrate the New Year, but the festivities turned to chaos about 30 minutes before midnight, local time. Authorities don't know what caused the stampede, but some who were amid the crush of people say they heard a scream and saw rows of people collapse. In the end, 36 people died and 47 were sent to the hospital.
Relatives of those who died said authorities told them nothing about their loved ones for hours, and others said authorities misinformed them.
[UPDATE] 36 killed, 47 injured in #Shanghai stampede #China http://t.co/Ec80PrFxQA pic.twitter.com/3YHYC9AQD1— Today's Zaman (@todayszamancom) January 1, 2015
"We were told my sister was still being rescued the minute before we were taken to the morgue, where she had been lying dead — clearly for a while," Cai Jinjin, whose cousin Qi Xiaoyan died in the stampede, told The Associated Press. "There she was, cold and all by herself."
Relatives of Pan Haiqin, 24, traveled to Shanghai when they found out Pan had not showed up for work on New Year's Day, but authorities didn't verify Pan's death for hours, according to The Associated Press.
Family members tried to break through a police line at a hospital where some of the victims were being treated before the officers used a bench to block their path. Relatives were eventually allowed in.
China: 36 killed in stampede during new year celebration in #ShanghaiStampede http://t.co/VowkjmiH5R pic.twitter.com/M8lPJY3fSF— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) January 1, 2015
Some news outlets said the chaos may have begun after coupons that looked like fake paper money fell from a third-story window in a building above the square, though authorities reportedly said the claim had no validity. Others said there were simply too many people trying to fit onto a viewing platform area that was too small to hold them. As crowds of people tried to push past those already standing to view the show, panic may have ensued.
Mourners light candles after more than 35 die from New Year’s Eve stampede in Shanghai, China pic.twitter.com/NVeDvdAJjp via @GettyImages— Breaking News Feed (@PzFeed) January 1, 2015
The New Year's Eve event by Chen Yi Square has drawn an annual crowd of around 300,000 for several years, though authorities had reportedly tried to ensure a calmer event this year than in years past by closing the celebration to the public.
But city authorities were still unprepared for the number of people in the crowd. On Thursday, at the site of the stampede, bouquets of flowers covered the ground in a makeshift memorial.
Additional reporting by The Associated Press.