Relatives Of Shanghai New Year Stampede Victims Scour Hospitals In Search For Missing Kin

Jan 02, 2015 05:36 AM EST

(Photo : Reuters) A woman cries at a hospital after a stampede occurred during a New Year's celebration on the Bund, central Shanghai January 1, 2015.

Hospitals in Shanghai were the hunting ground of relatives of New Year Eve's revelers who became victims of one of the worst disasters in the premier Chinese city who came to the Bund.

It is the city's most prominent waterside promenade and site of the light shows and performances to say goodbye to 2014 and welcome 2015. They came to watch the 5-D light show in which colorful blazes of light would be projected across the river to the 2,074-foot Shanghai Tower, the city's pride since it is the second-tallest building in the world.

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However, instead of having fun, the ended up in hospitals, prompting anxious loved ones who heard of the accident and could not reach their families and friends by phone to look for them in medical centers.

Fox News reports that 36 have died, while 47 received treatment in hospitals. Among those hurt, 13 had serious injuries. By Thursday afternoon, seven of those hurt had left the hospitals.

One Taiwanese was among those who died after the stampede at Chen Yi Square, a well-known riverfront destination that is often full of people whenever there are major events in the street known for its art deco edifices dating back to the 1920s and 1930s. Among the injured are one Malaysian and two Taiwanese.

To help identify the dead, police showed photo to the relatives with family members breaking into tears when they recognize a face as their loved ones.

A woman who was with her 12-year-old son told Xinhua that people fell down row by row, causing pandemonium. After the bedlam and she and her son were brought to safety, she found his forehead bruised, two big scars on his neck, bleeding mouth and nose, and shoe prints on his clothes.

An injured male explained the stampeded to pushing from both directions, with those below the stairs trying to move up, while those on top were trying to go down.

Because of the stampede, the light show was cancelled, while Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered an immediate probe on Thursday. One angle that investigators are looking is the throwing of paper money into the area by partygoers at an adjacent building to Chen Yu Square. The currency turned out to be fake US$100 bills.