Daegu police book building owner after ceiling collapse injures 38 elderly people
In short
Daegu police said on 20 October that they have booked the owner of a commercial building, identified as A, without detention on a charge of causing injury through negligence. A ceiling finishing collapsed on 10 October during a sales event for elderly people on the second floor, and 38 people suffered minor injuries. Police had earlier booked a person linked to the company that held the event.
Read the full story 2 min read
Police in Daegu said on 20 October that they have booked the owner of a commercial building, identified as A, without detention on a charge of causing injury through negligence. The Daegu Police Agency made the announcement in connection with a ceiling finishing collapse on 10 October in a commercial building in Gwaneum-dong, Buk District. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Yonhap, Kukmin Ilbo, Kyunghyang Shinmun and Hankook Ilbo reported that A is suspected of neglecting maintenance and repair of an old building at risk of structural collapse, causing casualties. Chosun Ilbo reported that police judged A responsible for the building's overall safety management and found he failed to manage the aging ceiling properly. A police official told Yonhap that the specific allegations cannot be disclosed while the investigation continues. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The collapse happened at about 10:16 on 10 October on the second floor of a four-storey building. A company was selling kitchenware and other goods to 66 elderly people there, and 38 suffered minor injuries. Chosun Ilbo said the ceiling finishing and its steel support frame fell. Newsis reported there were no seriously injured people. Reports differ on hospital care: Yonhap, citing fire authorities, said 9 were taken to hospital, while Kyunghyang Shinmun said 17 received hospital treatment and that those present were in their 60s to 80s. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Police had earlier booked a person linked to the company that held the event on a charge of professional negligence causing injury. Yonhap and Kyunghyang Shinmun put that on 13 October, while Newsis said 12 October. Chosun Ilbo reported that this person rented the vacant space left after a billiard hall closed and, in police's view, neglected safety management. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Yonhap and Kukmin Ilbo reported that the building was built in 1994, that the second floor had been a billiard hall and then stood vacant for a time, and that the ceiling was repaired once after 2019. Kukmin Ilbo described the repair as a statement given to police. Chosun Ilbo reported that the collapsed ceiling had traces of about three layers of gypsum board and paper plywood, and that police sent the debris to the National Forensic Service for detailed analysis. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Police have questioned the owner, the billiard hall operator and officials of the ceiling repair company, according to Yonhap. A joint inspection by the National Forensic Service and police took place on 11 October, and Yonhap and Kyunghyang Shinmun said its results are expected as early as early next week. A police official said they will question those involved further on that basis and aim to reach a conclusion as quickly as possible. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The booking widens the police investigation from the event organiser to the building owner. Police said a joint inspection result could come as early as early next week and that they will question more people on that basis.
Key facts
- The Daegu Police Agency said on 20 October that it booked building owner A without detention on a charge of causing injury through negligence. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The ceiling finishing collapsed at about 10:16 on 10 October on the second floor of a four-storey building in Gwaneum-dong, Buk District, Daegu. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- A company was selling goods to 66 elderly people on the floor at the time; 38 suffered minor injuries. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Newsis reported there were no seriously injured people. [ 3 ]
- Police suspect A neglected maintenance and repair of an old building at risk of structural collapse. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Police earlier booked a person linked to the company that held the sales event on a charge of professional negligence causing injury. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The building was built in 1994. [ 2 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Police booked the building owner, A, without detention on 20 October on a charge of causing injury through negligence. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- 38 people were slightly injured when the ceiling finishing collapsed during a sales event for 66 elderly people. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Police had already booked a person from the company that ran the sales event. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The building was built in 1994, and the second floor was a billiard hall before the company moved in. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Police said they cannot disclose A's specific alleged offences while the investigation continues. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- The cause of the collapse Police have sent debris to the National Forensic Service and said they will determine the cause from inspection results; Yonhap and Kyunghyang Shinmun said joint inspection results are expected as early as early next week.
- The date the event organiser was booked Yonhap and Kyunghyang Shinmun say 13 October; Newsis says 12 October.
- How many injured people received hospital care Yonhap, citing fire authorities, says 9 were taken to hospital; Kyunghyang Shinmun says 17 received hospital treatment.
- The exact charge against A Yonhap, Newsis, Kukmin Ilbo, Kyunghyang Shinmun and Hankook Ilbo give it as causing injury through negligence; Chosun Ilbo gives it as professional negligence causing injury.
- What the debris shows about the ceiling construction Only Chosun Ilbo reported that the ceiling finishing had about three layers of gypsum board and paper plywood.