New Year 's festivities in China 's most populous city were cut short Wednesday after a stampede left at least 35 people dead and dozens injured . Posts on Twitter and China 's Weibo social network described a chaotic scene and rescue efforts along the Shanghai riverfront . Photos showed large crowds packing a street near the river and emergency medical workers treating people on the ground . The stampede broke out around 11:35 p.m. Wednesday along the city 's riverfront , the state-run Xinhua news agency said . At least 42 people were injured , Xinhua reported . Authorities are investigating the cause , Xinhua said . A witness told the government-run news agency that people started scrambling after coupons that looked like dollar bills were thrown from the third floor of a building . Many of the dead were young students , CCTV America reported , citing Shanghai rescue authorities . Video from the Reuters news agency showed people sobbing in a hospital waiting room . One woman told CCTV they 'd been waiting for hours for information about their loved ones . The promenade in the area known as the Bund along the Huangpu River is a popular spot for New Year 's Eve festivities in Shanghai . But last week , Shanghai Daily reported that local officials had called off a popular New Year 's Eve light show there , citing police concerns over crowd control . Last year , the event drew nearly 300,000 people and `` dispersing the crowd became a massive administrative headache , '' the newspaper said . Scaled-back celebrations had been planned in several parts of the city instead , according to the newspaper . Officials canceled another New Year 's celebration late Wednesday in front of Beijing 's tallest skyscraper , citing safety concerns . Even with the light show and official countdown called off , many revelers remained at the location and had their own countdown there .
Witness tells Xinhua people were scrambling for dollar-shaped coupons . Stampede breaks out at a New Year 's celebration in Shanghai . Score: 6