Search for Missing Persons Continues During Lunar New Year Holiday in Gwangju Collapse Accident

Deployment of Two Mini Excavators on 29th Floor and Securing Work to Prevent Falling Concrete Chunks

Complete Removal of Existing Crane Cabin and Upper Structures... Plan to Install New Large Crane Underway

On the 29th, the fire authorities are securing the entrance to the 26th floor and removing debris. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City Fire Safety Headquarters

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Cho Hyung-joo] Despite the Lunar New Year holiday, search efforts for the missing and rescue operations for those buried in the Gwangju apartment collapse accident continue, with construction equipment such as mini excavators being deployed to remove debris and carry on the rescue work.

The Central Accident Response Headquarters stated at the regular briefing on the afternoon of the 29th, "Two small pieces of equipment have been deployed to the 29th floor to remove debris and conduct search and rescue activities."

The search and rescue support activities involved 61 personnel, 2 mini excavators, 2 mobile cranes with a 1200-ton capacity, 2 drilling machines, and 1 backhoe.

Additionally, work was carried out to secure falling concrete debris on the west side using 8mm wire to prevent rockfall of concrete chunks.

Currently, 16 out of 30 wires have been lowered, and the securing work is scheduled to be completed by the 31st.

For the search and rescue activities, two mini excavators were deployed on the 29th floor. One was brought in from outside to remove debris starting from the highest point of the collapsed slab, while the other operated from inside.

The excavator work proceeded down to the 29th floor on this day, with plans to work on the 28th floor on the 30th.

Furthermore, the upper part of the existing tower crane, which was an obstacle to the operation of the 1200-ton mobile large crane, was additionally dismantled.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and the response team began dismantling the existing tower crane, approximately 145 meters tall, after opinions were raised that a large crane was necessary for rescuing the buried and searching for the missing.

To avoid hindering the operation of the newly deployed crane, the remaining upper parts of the existing tower crane, including the operator's cabin, counter jib (weight balance fixing part), and turntable (slewing device), were all removed on this day.

A new tower crane is planned to be installed by the 25th of next month at the corner of the apartment’s outer wall that avoided collapse.

After the collapse accident, concerns arose that the unstable existing tower crane might topple sideways, leading to the start of dismantling on the 21st. However, the work, initially scheduled for one day, extended until the 23rd due to variables in the tower crane’s movement.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and the response team halted dismantling at that time, leaving some upper parts such as the operator’s cabin intact, based on expert opinions that the tower crane’s stability had been secured amid delays in the work.