Seoul: The conclusion of a months-long investigation into the tragedy that left 159 people dead came from South Korea's police on Friday, who said that a lack of planning and an insufficient response were the primary causes of the deadly Halloween crush in Seoul last year.

On October 29, when tens of thousands of young partygoers crammed into tiny alleyways to celebrate the first Halloween without COVID curbs in three years, the traditional celebrations in the well-known nightlife district of Itaewon turned deadly.

According to Sohn Je-han, the investigator, authorities, including the police, failed to implement safety measures despite the likelihood of an accident due to the dense crowds and failed to respond appropriately when calls for help began to come in.

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Large casualties were caused by poor situational judgement, a delay in information sharing, and a lack of cooperation between related agencies, Sohn told reporters.

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23 people, including the chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, have been forwarded to prosecutors by the investigation team. The police investigation has drawn criticism from the bereaved families and opposition lawmakers for failing to hold powerful individuals accountable.

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As he arrived at a prosecutor's office in Seoul, Lee Jong-chul, the leader of a group that represents the bereaved families, told reporters, "We have so many questions unanswered." "We expected a better, more thorough investigation when we came here to provide a victim's statement."