Dozens killed in Shanghai stampede

Thirty-five people have been killed in a stampede in Shanghai, China during the city's New Year's celebrations.

A Shanghai government statement said another 42 people were injured amid the chaos about a half-hour before midnight.

The deaths and injuries occurred at the city's popular riverfront Bund area, which can be jammed with spectators for major events.

CCTV America, the U.S. version of state broadcaster China Central Television, posted video of Shanghai streets after the stampede, showing piles of discarded shoes amid the debris.

The cause of the stampede remained under investigation, said China's state-run Xinhua News Agency.

One Xinhua photo from the scene showed at least one person doing chest compressions on a shirtless man while several other people lay on the ground nearby, amid debris. Another photo showed the area ringed by police.

The cause of the stampede remained under investigation, Xinhua report said.

Other media said the incident was caused when people tried picking up fake money thrown from a building, according to Reuters.

Local authorities had cancelled an annual 3D laser show on the Bund last week, citing problems controlling the record high crowd of 300,000 spectators last year that blocked traffic and pedestrian thoroughfares, according to local English-language newspaper Shanghai Daily. The report said a "toned-down" version of the event would be held instead but that it would not be open to the public.

Al Jazeera and wire services