(Reuters) --- A stampede killed at least 36 people during New Year's Eve celebrations in Shanghai, authorities said, but the police denied reports that it was caused by people rushing to pick up fake money thrown from a building overlooking the city's famous waterfront.
It was the worst disaster in the modern city since 58 died in an apartment building fire in 2010.
The cause of the crush has still to be confirmed, though state media and some witnesses have said it was at least partly aroused when people rushed to pick up coupons that looked like bank notes.
A man named Wu said the fake money had been thrown down from a bar above the street as part of the celebrations.
"This incident happened after the stampede," police said in a brief statement, without saying what the real cause was.
Another witness said there had been a problem away from the area where the fake bills were thrown, with people trying to get on to a raised platform overlooking the river.
Xinhua news agency said that people had been trampled on after falling down on the steps up to the platform.
Authorities had shown some concern about crowd control in the days leading up to New Year's Eve. They recently canceled an annual 3D laser show on the Bund, which last year attracted as many as 300,000 people.
On New Year's Eve, Beijing also canceled a countdown event in the central business district, Chinese media said, due to police fears about overcrowding.
The Shanghai government said on its official microblog that an inquiry had begun, and that all other New Year events had been canceled.
In 2004, 37 people died in a stampede in northern Beijing, on a bridge at a scenic spot, during the Lunar New Year holiday.
According to the passage, why did people go to the Bund?
A.To meet their old friends and relatives. |
B.To celebrate the New Year’s Eve. |
C.To watch an annual 3D laser show. |
D.To pick up bank notes. |
What can be inferred according to the passage?
A.Some possible measures had been taken by authorities. |
B.People like 3D laser show better than any other events. |
C.The local government had shown their worry about overcrowding. |
D.The celebrations in Beijing were influenced by this stampede. |
What’s the passage about?
A.A countdown event in Beijing. |
B.A laser show on the Bund. |
C.An apartment fire in Shanghai. |
D.A stampede on New Year’s Eve in Shanghai. |