Dozens killed in Shanghai New Year's Eve stampede

At least 35 killed in crush at Chinese city's riverfront as witnesses say they rushed to catch money thrown from a nightclub



A stampede at a New Year’s celebration in the heart of Shanghai killed at least 35 people - the worst disaster to hit one of China's biggest cities in recent years.

More than 40 people were also wounded as hundreds of thousands of revellers crammed into Shanghai's popular riverfront Bund area for the annual light show.

The stampede began at around 11:35pm yesterday at Chen Yi Square.

Witnesses said money had been thrown from the balcony of a nearby nightclub which caused a frenzy of spectators rushing to grab it.

George Chen, a reporter at the South China Morning Post, said friends had been at the event and had seen people throwing dollar bills - reportedly fake - from the upscale Bund 18 club.

Photographs posted online showed densely packed crowds of revellers along the Bund, one of the most famed tourist areas in Shanghai that runs along the bank of the Huangpu River.

The Bund, renowned for its pre-1949 architecture, is the former financial district of China's commercial hub and now a popular tourist destination, packed with high-end restaurants and expensive boutiques.

It is also notorious for being overcrowded with spectators during major events.