New year gala was much the same as any other

It was not the first time a New Year's Eve spectacular had been staged on Shanghai's historic Bund, nor were the city's police unfamiliar with controlling large crowds - facts that leave authorities wondering what was different this time that led to Wednesday's tragedy.

While it was the first "5D light display" held, similar events - which also attracted huge crowds - had been staged at the same location in the previous four years.

Wednesday's display was supposed to run from 11pm to 12.10am. The stampede took place at 11.35pm.

While it is not known exactly how many people flocked to the area last night, witnesses described it as a claustrophobic "sea of faces" where people struggled for breath.

Weibo users reported that the Bund was awash with people by 11.25pm, 10 minutes before the accident - especially in the area connecting Chen Yi Square, where the stampede occurred, and the Bund's viewing platform 100 metres away.

Like previous years, there was a new year countdown - which continued even as victims were being resuscitated.

As with earlier shows, admission to the area was free.