Gwangju Collapse Accident Enters 11th Day, Precise Search 'One Mountain After Another'
Hyunsan Side "Stabilization Work Also Underway... Dismantling Expected to Complete Tomorrow"
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] It has been 11 days since the collapse accident at Hwajeong I-Park in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City. The precise search of the upper floors, where additional buried victims are presumed to be, is expected to be delayed again due to the delay in the dismantling work of the tower crane.
The completion date of the dismantling has been repeatedly postponed from the original 17th to the 21st and 22nd. The biggest reason is the safety issues of the workers.
A Hyundai Development Company official said in a phone interview with this paper, "As we proceeded with the stabilization work while working, it seems to have taken more time than initially expected," adding, "The dismantling is scheduled to be completed by the 22nd."
The partial dismantling work of the tower crane (height 145m) was scheduled to start at 8 a.m. and finish by 6 p.m. on the same day, but as of 4 p.m., it remains at the stage of separating the counterweights.
On this day, the dismantling of the counterweights (about 27 tons) and the boom (crane arm) is expected to be completed, and tomorrow the separation work of the operator's cabin will begin. Hyundai Development Company has expressed its intention to work even during nighttime hours.
At the site, equipment including two 1200-ton mobile cranes for dismantling and about 40 Hyundai Development Company officials were deployed.
The work radius of 79 meters was designated as a danger zone, and an evacuation order was issued, resulting in a partial suspension of the search.
The danger zone includes the east side of the tower crane, Hwajeong I-Park Complex 1, which had already been under evacuation orders, and the west side, which is a mixed-use residential complex. It also includes a vacant lot for new apartment construction to the south and part of the parking lot of Gwangju General Bus Terminal to the north.
Once the dismantling of the counterweights and boom is completed today, the tower crane, which is tilted toward the apartment side, is expected to regain some balance, significantly reducing the risk of further collapse.
The accident occurred around 3:46 p.m. on the 11th at the apartment construction site when the exterior walls of the 201 building from the 23rd to the 38th floors collapsed.
As a result, one worker died and five went missing. They are presumed to have been responsible for window and fire-fighting equipment installation work on the 28th to 34th floors of the collapsed building.
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