8:01 AM Warning Signs Detected → 8:04 AM Evacuation Order → 8:07 AM Collapse 'Urgent'
14 Workers and Managers Quickly Evacuated to Building Core... No Casualties
Search Resumes After Safety Inspection and Reinforcement Work... Access Restric
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] As the search for missing persons enters its 23rd day following the collapse accident of the newly constructed apartment by Hyundai Development Company in Gwangju, the search operation was halted due to debris falling from the collapsed building.
According to the Central Accident Response Headquarters on the 2nd, at around 8:07 a.m., large concrete debris that was hanging on the retaining wall on the west side of the 28th floor of Building 201, which had collapsed, fell down.
In preparation for such a fall, the debris and the building had been tied together with an 8mm wire, so the chunks fell inside the building with only some falling to the ground, which is reported to have prevented major damage.
The situation inside the building at the time was reportedly tense.
There were 152 people working throughout the building, including 119 from Hyundai Development Company and 38 firefighters, with about 14 people including workers and managers in the collapsed area.
At around 8:01 a.m., firefighters, supervisors, and safety managers visually confirmed creaking sounds and shaking during a preliminary inspection, and at 8:04 a.m., they urgently radioed to evacuate the workers.
The evacuation site was the core part inside the building, considered the safest area.
Just three minutes after the workers evacuated, at 8:07 a.m., concrete chunks poured down. Since all workers had evacuated, there have been no reported casualties so far.
Currently, the search operation is suspended, and after a safety inspection and reinforcement measures, the search will resume.
The cause of the accident is under investigation, and the Central Accident Response Headquarters explained that although there was no direct impact, the removal of debris using heavy equipment on the line next to the collapsed area may have had some influence.
For future safety management, safety inspections before work deployment will be strengthened, and additional CCTV will be installed on the west side to monitor the unstable interior 24 hours a day.
Also, the emergency evacuation system will be reinforced in case of urgent situations, the side deemed most unstable?the commercial area?will be closed, and access on the west side will be restricted. The building workers’ entrance will also be changed from the west side to the east side.
Lee Il, Director of the 119 Response Bureau of the Fire Agency, said, “We will do our best to ensure that all missing persons are rescued in a safe environment.”
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