Partial Human Remains Presumed to Be Missing Person Found at Gwangju Apartment Collapse Site

Reinforced Concrete Layers... Full Effort to Secure Access Road

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] As the search for the collapsed newly built apartment in Gwangju enters its 16th day, a body part presumed to belong to a missing person has been found at the site.

According to the Central Accident Response Headquarters on the 26th, a body part presumed to be from a missing person was discovered near the area where bloodstains and work clothes believed to belong to the missing person were found the previous afternoon.

The Central Accident Response Headquarters found traces of the missing person, such as bloodstains and work clothes, around 5:30 p.m. the previous day at a location presumed to be the master bedroom on the 27th floor.

Due to debris such as concrete and rebar, it was difficult for rescue workers to be immediately deployed, so an endoscopic camera was used for further exploration, which led to the judgment that it was likely a human.

Subsequently, during the nighttime search, some body parts including hair were confirmed.

Since the collapsed debris is piled up layer upon layer, it is expected that the rescue will take a considerable amount of time.

Currently, the Central Accident Response Headquarters is clearing debris and securing an access route through the 28th floor, which is above the discovery point.

Lee Il, Director of the 119 Response Bureau at the Fire Agency, said, “We received a request from the families of the missing persons to ‘prioritize safety while conducting a swift rescue,’” adding, “We are exploring search methods together with experts.”