'Gwangju Apartment Collapse' Full-Scale 24-Hour Search Begins After 2 Weeks

Structural Experts and Additional Equipment Deployed... Upper Levels Search Intensifies

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] On the 24th, the second week since the collapse accident at the newly constructed apartment in Hwajeong-dong, Gwangju, precise operations for the full-scale search for missing persons were carried out.

The Accident Response Integrated Headquarters announced that from the morning of that day, they would deploy day and night shifts to conduct a 24-hour search.

With the nationwide fire alert issued, 14 specialized rescue workers who joined from across the country were also deployed. They are experts with extensive experience in large-scale accidents, including deployment to overseas disaster sites.

So far, multiple search and rescue dogs have shown abnormal reactions while focusing on searching the 22nd floor, and efforts are underway to secure search passages on the 27th and 28th floors.

Hyundai Development Company is deploying two-shift work teams, with 15 people during the day and 10 at night, to continue 24-hour on-site support.

On the morning of that day, an excavator was introduced inside the 22nd floor using a crane, focusing on debris removal.

So far, 205 personnel from 16 organizations, 49 pieces of equipment, 5 search and rescue dogs, and 4 drones have been deployed.

Meanwhile, at around 3:46 p.m. on the 11th, the outer walls of the 23rd to 38th floors of Building 201 at the apartment construction site collapsed.

As a result, one worker died, and five are missing. It is estimated that they were responsible for window and fire-fighting equipment work on the 28th to 34th floors of the collapsed building.