Dozens injured as ceiling collapses in Daegu store
In short
Part of a ceiling collapsed in a store in Daegu's Gwaneum-dong on October 10, prompting 66 people to evacuate on their own. Reports put the number injured at 36 or 38, with several outlets reporting nine hospital transfers.
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Part of a ceiling collapsed in a store in Gwaneum-dong, in Daegu's Buk district, on October 10, injuring dozens of people. Fire authorities received a report at about 10:16 a.m. that the ceiling had fallen. Hankook Ilbo and Newsis reported that 66 people evacuated on their own, with 36 sustaining minor injuries and nine taken to hospital. [ 9 , 23 ]
The reported casualty figures differed. Yonhap's 12:55 p.m. headline put the number injured at 38, as did a Seoul Economic Daily headline published at 12:46 p.m., which described all injuries as minor and not life-threatening. Other reports gave 36 injuries. Korea Economic Daily and an earlier Newsis report said five people had been taken to hospital, while Hankook Ilbo and a subsequent Newsis report put the number at nine. [ 8 , 9 , 14 , 23 , 29 , 32 ]
Newsis reported that fire authorities suspected a suspended ceiling on the second floor of a four-story building had collapsed. It described the suspended ceiling as a separate ceiling installed below pipes and said the fallen material was believed to be gypsum. The precise collapse location and cause required further investigation. Fire authorities deployed 18 pieces of equipment and 55 personnel to search the site. They completed a second search at about 10:55 a.m. without finding additional unusual circumstances. [ 23 ]
Police and fire authorities were investigating the circumstances and cause of the collapse and the extent of the damage, according to Chosun Ilbo and Newsis. Chosun Ilbo also reported that police were controlling traffic around the site. President Lee Jae-myung, after receiving a report from the acting police chief, instructed the relevant agencies to devote all efforts to rescuing people and handling the accident, according to reports from Dong-A Ilbo and Newsis. [ 19 , 23 , 24 , 26 ]
Why it matters
Dozens of people were injured, though reports described the injuries as minor. Authorities were investigating the cause and extent of the damage, while President Lee Jae-myung instructed agencies to devote all efforts to rescue and handling the accident.
Key facts
- Authorities received a report of a ceiling collapse in Gwaneum-dong, Daegu's Buk district, at about 10:16 a.m. on October 10. [ 9 , 23 ]
- Sixty-six people evacuated on their own. [ 9 , 23 , 35 ]
- Several outlets reported 36 minor injuries; later Yonhap and Seoul Economic Daily headlines reported 38 injuries. [ 9 , 23 , 29 , 32 ]
- Reports differed on hospital transfers, with five reported by some outlets and nine by others. [ 8 , 9 , 14 , 23 ]
- Fire authorities completed a second search at about 10:55 a.m. and reported no additional unusual findings. [ 8 , 9 , 23 ]
- President Lee Jae-myung directed agencies to devote all efforts to rescue and handling the accident. [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The exact injury count and number of hospital transfers differed between reports. Several reports gave 36 injuries, while Yonhap and Seoul Economic Daily headlines gave 38; hospital-transfer figures ranged from five to nine.
- The precise part of the ceiling that collapsed and the cause remained under investigation. Newsis reported a suspected suspended-ceiling collapse but said further investigation was needed to establish the collapse location and cause.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Authorities received a report that a store ceiling had collapsed in Gwaneum-dong. [ 9 , 23 ]
- Fire authorities completed a second search and reported no additional unusual findings. [ 9 , 23 ]
- Newsis reported 36 minor injuries and nine hospital transfers. [ 23 ]
- Yonhap's updated headline reported 38 injuries. [ 32 ]