Khaosan Road ups security for Halloween party after deadly Seoul stampede
Bangkok’s tourism hub of Khaosan Road has tightened safety measures ahead of tonight’s Halloween celebrations after more than 150 people were killed at a similar event in South Korea on Saturday.
About 20,000 visitors are expected to party on the road tonight, Khaosan Road Business Association president Sanga Ruangwattanakul said.
Local businesses will cooperate with police, Bangkok officials and volunteers to ensure safety in the crowded area, he said.
Sanga explained that ambulances would be stationed to tackle any emergencies, adding that Khaosan had dealt safely with much larger crowds in the past.
"Ensuring safety among 20,000 visitors is not a worry as Khaosan Road sees more than 50,000 visitors during the Songkran festival.”
He added that safety-awareness noticeboards in Thai, English and Chinese will be set up along the road.
Sanga also pointed out that the layout of Khaosan Road is different from South Korea's Itaewon district, where the deadly stampede took place on Saturday night.
"Itaewon district has uneven ground and a 6-metre-wide road whereas Khaosan Road is flat and more than 14 metres wide," he explained.
He said visitors could be confident of their safety on Khaosan Road, inviting them to wear Halloween costumes and join the international party.
The death toll from Seoul’s Halloween stampede rose to 153 as of Sunday night. Two-thirds of those killed were women and 80 per cent of victims were aged 20-30.
A Thai woman was among the victims, the Royal Thai Embassy in South Korea reported on Sunday.
Related stories:
