'Gwangju Apartment Collapse' Focused Search and Rescue Operations on Upper Floors Starting from the 17th

Decision to Derive Search Methods at Expert Meeting on Building Safety Inspection and Structural Field Measures

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] From the 7th day of the collapse accident at the newly constructed apartment in Hwajeong-dong, Gwangju, built by Hyundai Development Company, search and rescue operations for the high-rise section are expected to proceed in earnest starting on the 17th.

Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City and Head of the Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, announced this during a briefing on the afternoon of the 16th.

Currently, the Integrated Accident Response Headquarters, including the fire department, is focusing on searching by removing debris from the basement level 1, where the first missing person was found, as well as the underground floors, outdoor areas, and up to the 2nd floor above ground, in order to find the remaining five missing persons.

Although one missing person was rescued on the 14th, the risk of additional collapse of the tilted tower crane and concerns about falling debris from the building have made it practically difficult to deploy rescue workers, making it still hard to even identify the locations of the remaining missing persons.

Accordingly, the Countermeasures Headquarters has decided to proceed with search and rescue operations by receiving professional diagnoses and consultations from institutions and experts nationwide who hold the highest authority in building safety fields (construction, structure, crane, demolition, etc.).

At 10 a.m. on the 17th, an expert countermeasure meeting on building safety diagnosis and structural fields will be held on-site.

Considering that the accident site requires advanced search and rescue techniques due to the collapse, the plan is to derive the best search and rescue methods based on the diverse experiences and expertise of the experts.

Mayor Lee said, “Our top priority now is to secure the safety of rescue workers while finding the five missing persons as quickly as possible,” and added, “We are actively requesting support from central government agencies and related professional institutions for experts in this field and cutting-edge equipment.”