Rumors of a fireworks display led spectators to a metal bridge
in Mihong Park in suburban Beijing's Miyun County and caused last
Thursday's stampede that killed 37 people.
This was disclosed by Xia Qiang, secretary of the Communist
Party of China (CPC) Miyun County Committee, at a press conference
held Tuesday. Many of the victims were women and children, trampled
or crushed to death.
The lantern display opened on Jan. 31 in Mihong Park, attracting
about 2,500 tourists each day on average before the accident
occurred. On the evening of Feb. 5, China's traditional
Lantern Festival, about 4,500 spectators were at the lantern
display area and nearly four million tourists were crowded in the
park, Xia said.
Rumors spread that there would be a fireworks show when some
residents set off fireworks in some residential areas outside of
the park and spectators swarmed to Yunhong Bridge, which was
considered a desirable site to observe the park's scenery,
witnesses said.
At 7:45 pm, a spectator tripped on the steep steps of the metal
rainbow-shaped bridge and fell, triggering the deadly stampede when
people from behind did not stop pushing forward and began to fall
on top of one another.
Bodies of the 37 victims have been identified and sent to
funeral homes, including 28 females and nine males. Among the dead,
14 were students, 15 were peasants, six were teachers, and two were
workers and the oldest was 68 and the youngest seven, local
government sources said.
Six patients had been discharged from hospital as of Monday. The
six included one of the 15 injured who were rushed to hospital
shortly after the accident and five of the 22 who checked
themselves in.
Another 20 still in hospital are recovering and are expected to
be discharged soon, and 11 others are staying in hospital for
observation, said medical staff.
The county officials had set up 37 task forces to condole the
bereaved families, trying their best to help the families and
handout pensions from the government, charity organizations and
social donations, Xia said.
(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2004)