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Shanghai New Year's Eve stampede victims' families to be compensated

By Andrew V. Pestano

SHANGHAI, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- The families of the 36 people who died in the New Year's Eve stampede in Shanghai will receive $129,000 each in compensation.

The 49 other people who were injured in the stampede will receive compensation depending on their injuries.

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Local officials in Shanghai said the incident was "totally preventable."

On Dec. 31, a stampede broke out in an area known as The Bund in Shanghai's Chen Yi Square.

Police said they underestimated the size of the crowd, which reached about 300,000 people. About 500 police officers were deployed in the area. Four district officials were fired after the incident.

Shanghai authorities were accused of censorship and intimidation to limit government criticism after questioning people who posted comments online about the stampede and by retaining a large police presence in the area where the stampede took place.

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