36 Killed in Stampede at Shanghai New Year's Celebration
According to the Associated Press, at least 36 people died and another 47 were injured after a Shanghai New Year's celebration turned into a deadly stampede.
More photos. Deadly stampede during New Year's Day celebration in #Shanghai. 35 reported dead, 40 injured. pic.twitter.com/62E1fn0mm2
— Jim Barnett (@JimBarnettNews) December 31, 2014
The BBC says the cause of the stampede is still being investigated, but photos on social media show a chaotic scene near Shanghai's waterfront, where the tragedy occurred shortly before midnight on Wednesday.
Authorities reportedly planned on having a more subdued event this year after experiencing problems controlling the large crowds drawn to the celebration in the past. From The New York Times:
Last week, the English-language Shanghai Daily reported that the annual New Year's Eve countdown on the Bund that normally attracts about 300,000 people had been cancelled, apparently because of crowd control issues. The report said a "toned-down" version of the event would be held instead but that it would not be open to the public.
The stampede appeared to be near that area.
[Image via Getty Images]