Gwangju Apartment Collapse Tower Crane Dismantled... Families of Missing Persons 'Anxious'

Families of Missing Persons "Hope for Safe and Stable Dismantling"

After Completion on the 21st, Full-Scale Upper-Level Search to Begin Next Week

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jo Hyung-joo] Eleven days after the collapse accident at a newly constructed apartment in Gwangju, the dismantling work of the tower crane, which was the biggest obstacle in the search for the missing, has officially begun, creating tension in various places.

At around 10 a.m. on the 21st, access was restricted within a 79-meter radius of the accident site due to concerns about a possible secondary collapse and the tower crane tipping over, but outside the control line, the gathered residents created a bustling scene.

Nearby residents and families of the missing gathered around the site watched the recovery officials performing the dismantling work directly at 145 meters with worried eyes, soothing their anxious hearts with a mix of hope and concern.

Residents and families of the missing, hoping for news of the rescue, could not leave the site and prayed for the stable dismantling of the crane.

Residents watching the situation closed their eyes tightly in prayer and took photos of the dismantling site with their mobile phones. They also pointed at the crane with their fingers and discussed the situation at the site with others watching together.

As the dismantling work began, families who came out from the waiting area for the missing shed tears while looking at the collapsed apartment.

A family member of one of the missing said, "Even though they are dismantling the tower crane, there is no plan for what comes next, so I don't have high expectations," revealing their broken heart.

Mr. Ahn, the representative of the Victims' Families Association, said, "We are anxious and praying that no further accidents occur," adding, "We are holding on with a glimmer of hope."

He said, "Although we have an idea of where the missing might be, the site is so horrific that families are very frustrated," and added, "Even if the tower crane is dismantled, there are many risky possibilities, so families are very anxious."

He also said, "There have been cases in the past where miracles happened," and "Families are believing and praying."

According to the Accident Recovery Integrated Countermeasures Headquarters, the partial dismantling of the tower crane is planned to be completed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the same day.

If the dismantling work is safely completed, additional safety securing work will be carried out over the weekend, and full-scale internal precision search is expected to begin early next week.

Earlier, at around 3:46 p.m. on the 11th, a part of the I-Park Apartment Building 201, under construction by Hyundai Development Company, collapsed from the 38th floor to the 23rd floor, causing six workers to go missing. One was recovered deceased, and the remaining five are still missing.