'Gwangju Apartment Collapse' Upper Floors Buried 2 Persons' Fingerprints and Bloodstains Match Missing Persons

All 2 Initially Dead Victims Now 3... Locations of Other 3 Still Unknown

Layers of Rebar and Concrete Debris Piled Up... Recovery Expected to Take Time

On the 17th day since the collapse accident at Hwajeong I-Park in Seo-gu, Gwangju, on the afternoon of the 27th, 119 rescue workers are clearing debris on the 28th floor, Unit 1 line of the collapsed apartment to rescue missing persons. Photo by the National Fire Agency

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Cho Hyung-joo] On the 25th and 27th, the identities of two buried victims found in the upper floors of the collapsed new apartment building by Hyundai Development Company in Gwangju were confirmed to match those of previously missing persons.

According to the Central Accident Response Headquarters, parts of a buried victim's body were discovered on the 28th floor that afternoon. This came two days after a buried victim was confirmed in Unit 2 on the 27th floor on the afternoon of the 25th.

The Central Accident Response Headquarters collected bloodstains from the victim buried on the 27th floor, which were embedded in concrete, and fingerprints from the victim found on the 28th floor for forensic analysis. The results showed that they were workers conducting construction on the upper floors at the time of the collapse.

Both of the discovered victims were deceased, increasing the death toll to three. The locations of the remaining three missing persons have not yet been identified.

The first victim was found on the morning of the 13th, the third day after the accident, on the basement level 1 staircase and was recovered deceased the following day.

Meanwhile, on the morning of the same day, while breaking a wall to rescue the second buried victim found on the 25th, the right hand of a presumed missing victim was discovered.

During exploration with an endoscopic camera in Line 2 on the 28th floor, a gloved hand was confirmed. This area is also layered with debris such as concrete, so full-scale rescue operations are expected to take considerable time.

Lee Il, Director of the 119 Response Bureau at the Fire Agency, stated, "Because the concrete debris is layered thickly, rescue operations are expected to take time," and added, "We will continue rescue activities at night by securing internal passages, removing debris, and installing additional supports."

The rescue authorities are currently clearing access routes by breaking concrete, cutting rebar, and removing debris tangled together.

Additionally, stabilization work for smooth search operations is underway.

Additional jack supports are being installed to reinforce the building's stabilization, and wires to prevent the fall of collapse debris are being installed to secure the stability of the retaining wall area.

Min Sung-woo, Head of Safety Management at Hyundai Development Company, commented on the additional collapse risk of Building 203, "Upon inspection, there is some sagging, but after a detailed investigation and reinforcement measures, there will be no risk factors."