4 mountain climbers dead at traditional festival

CHANGNYEONG, South Korea, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- At least four mountain climbers were killed and 10 others injured Monday in a mountaintop stampede during a traditional festival in southeastern South Korea, police said.

A fire set by the Changnyeong municipal government on a pampas grass field on
Mount Hwawang in the town of Changnyeong was blown past its 50-meter fire control
line by a crosswind, causing participants in the festival to flee the scene.
The number of injured is likely to rise, as about 15,000 people took part in the
event that is held once every three years by the town situated about 390 km
southeast of Seoul.
The festival marking the first full moon of the lunar new year on the mountain,
whose name means "big fire mountain" in Korean, originates from an old tale about
the force of fire bringing good crops and happiness.
Victims of the stampede fell off the top of the mountain around 6:20 p.m. "Many
mountain climbers who were observing the event are believed to have fallen off a
cliff on the mountain after the blaze caused them to run and scatter," a police
officer said.
The police are investigating what exactly caused the accident and identifying the
bodies.