The stampede which happened at Chen Yi Square in the Bund area of Shanghai on New Year's Eve claimed 36 lives and left the family members of the deceased in deep sorrow.

The Bund, a waterfront area in central Shanghai, is a popular destination for New Year celebrations, known for its historical architecture and skyscrapers along the Huangpu River displaying dazzling light shows at night. The ages of those killed ranged from 12 to 36. Most of the injured were also young people, a majority of them women.

As Shanghai, a metropolis that is home to a population of over 23 million, is one of the most developed cities in China and the Bund is the iconic location in the city, the impact of the accident was widespread. After the tragedy, medical staff worked night and day to treat the injured, and government departments were quick in addressing its aftermath. At the same time, we must find the cause of the accident.

Two of the most important traditional Chinese festivals, the Spring Festival and the Lantern Festival, are little more than a month away. As both periods are times when people attend temple fairs and flood the streets to watch lantern shows, it is expected that measures will be taken to prevent such tragedies from reoccurring.

First, city management officials should make better use of the pre-warning system for the safety of gatherings. Almost every local government has formulated a system to cope with emergencies such as stampedes, terrorist attacks, and incidents of violence. However, such protocols have not been applied properly in reality. Had city management officials effectively employed the pre-warning system, the tragedy might have been avoided.

Second, the police who are responsible for the security of a city should strengthen safety management in public places. They should stay alert not only to criminal activities but also to accidents. For example, they should be able to detect potential accidents in overcrowded places.

The Shanghai police's microblog showed that the police had discovered the overcrowding at Chen Yi Square through the monitor system and had dispatched forces to the crowded area so as to maintain order. However, the efficacy of the police was minimal because they failed to employ effective means to disperse the crowd. If they had used loudspeakers to tell those who crowded forward to stop, for instance, the stampede may have been prevented.

Third, the government should increase transparency of information concerning public activities. Greater availability of information about the site, turnout, and traffic of public activities means reduced potential for accidents.

People have been coming to the Bund on New Year's Eve to watch the light show for three years now. However, attendees were not aware that the light show this year had been relocated to the nearby Bund Origin area. When they found that there was no light show on the Bund and turned to go to the Bund Origin, they crowded onto a narrow stretch of stairs. Though many police officers were stationed in the Bund Origin area, by the time they arrived at the site of the accident the tragedy had already occurred.

Fourth, the public should be encouraged to discard their bad habits. Living in a country with a huge population, the Chinese have become accustomed to crowded places. Many jostle for space on buses and at tourist destinations or when buying tickets. Such predispositions played a role in the tragedy in Shanghai. Chinese citizens should try to improve their behavior in public and give more consideration to others. Public awareness, coupled with the government's safety measures, will help prevent tragedies of this nature from happening again.

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