At least 35 people were killed in a stampede at a New Year’s celebration in Shanghai, China, state media reported.
The stampede happened at about 11:35 p.m. Wednesday in a riverfront area known as the Bund, the state-run Xinhua news agency said. At least 42 people were injured, Xinhua reported.
Reports of the stampede appeared on Twitter, with posts describing a chaotic scene and rescue efforts.
Photos showed massive crowds packing a street near the river and emergency medical workers treating people on the ground.
Many of the dead were young students, CCTV America reported, citing Shanghai rescue authorities.
Authorities are investigating the cause, Xinhua said.
The famous riverfront promenade is a popular spot for New Year’s Eve festivities in Shanghai, China’s most-populous urban area.
Last week, Shanghai Daily reported that local officials had called off a popular New Year’s Eve light show along the Huangpu River, citing police concerns over crowd control. Last year, the event drew nearly 300,000 people and “dispersing the crowd became a massive administrative headache,” the newspaper said.
Scaled-back celebrations had been planned in several parts of the city instead, according to the newspaper.
Officials canceled another New Year’s celebration late Wednesday in front of Beijing’s tallest skyscraper, citing safety concerns.
Even with the light show and official countdown called off, many revelers remained at the location and had their own countdown there.