[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] At around 4:22 PM on the 9th, a five-story building under demolition collapsed in the redevelopment area of Hakdong, Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City. As debris fell onto the Unlim 54 city bus, 17 casualties occurred, with all 9 fatalities presumed to be passengers seated at the rear of the bus.
This is believed to be because the large street trees planted along the roadside acted as a buffer for the passengers seated in the front.
According to Gwangju Fire Department on the 10th, the damage to the city bus covered by debris was greater at the rear than at the front as the building collapsed.
Based on the vehicle's black box footage, the fire department explained that the street trees at the front of the bus appeared to have acted as a buffer when the building debris fell.
While briefing Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, who visited the accident site that day, the fire department stated, "Considering various circumstances, there is a possibility that the street trees acted as a buffer, but the exact details will be revealed through investigations by the police and the National Forensic Service."
Meanwhile, the police, fire department, and National Forensic Service are conducting on-site investigations at the disaster scene.
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