New Year's Eve Stampede Kills 35 In Shanghai

Authorities in China are reporting that 35 people died in a New Year's Eve stampede in Shanghai Wednesday.

The Shanghai government reported Friday that 35 people died and another 45 were injured when a stampede broke out about 30 minutes before midnight, as throngs of people gathered into Shanghai's Bund area to ring in the New Year.

Police are reporting that packed crowds contributed to the stampede, although the cause of the disaster has yet to be discovered. Some media outlets are reporting that the stampede originated from a private party taking place on the Bund and then fanned out to where hundreds of thousands of other spectators had gathered to ring in the New Year.

According to Reuters, media coverage and photos taken at the scene show discarded shoes and articles of clothing in the area where the stampede took place. Other photos show police delivering CPR to a victim, while still others show loved ones mourning outside of the hospital.

The stampede reportedly caused transportation issues for others in Shanghai who were also celebrating the New Year.

Zhao Ziyu, an office worker, told Shanghai Daily that he was disappointed the New Year's event had been canceled due to large volumes of people.

"The cancellation is a real pity," Zhao said. "I spent two hours in a bar after the countdown. I still did not get a taxi and had to walk all the way home."