SEOUL, Nov. 4 (Korea Bizwire) — A number of subway stations in Seoul have experienced a similar level of congestion as seen during the the deadly Halloween crowd crush, a wireless carrier said Thursday.
SK Telecom Co. reported that data records between August 1 and October 31 showed a congestion rate of 252 percent in subway trains bound from Guro Station to Guil Station at 6:40 p.m., at the peak of the rush hour.
According to Seoul Metro, each car can accommodate up to 160 passengers. Each car is considered 100 percent full when there are 160 people onboard.
A congestion rate of 252 percent, therefore, indicates there are 403 people onboard the car, the equivalent of about 6.6 people packed within a small space of 1 square meter, which is similar to the congestion rate shown at Itaewon during the crowd crush (5.6 to 6.6 people per square meter).
The congestion rate at Guro Station during the morning rush hour jumped to 210 percent at 7:40 a.m., indicating at least 330 passengers were onboard a single car, for a density of 5.42 people per square meter.
The congestion rate at Dongjak Station (line No. 4) peaked at 238 percent during evening rush hour, indicating at least 380 passengers were onboard a single car.
The congestion rate at Gunja Station (line No. 5) peaked at 228 percent, for an average of 365 passengers per car.
Image Credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
