Firefighters are conducting rescue operations while navigating through the collapsed debris. Photo by Changwon Fire Headquarters
At approximately 10:46 p.m. on July 31, the floor of the second story (the ceiling of the first floor) of a two-story commercial-residential building in Yangdeok-dong, Masan Hoewon-gu, Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, collapsed.
As a result of this accident, a man in his 50s who was inside a first-floor store was buried under the debris. He was found in cardiac arrest at around 2:33 a.m. on August 1 and was transported to a hospital, but ultimately passed away.
A man in his 40s who was with him at the time of the accident managed to escape on his own and survived.
Three women, one in her teens, one in her 30s, and one in her 40s, who lived on the second floor, suffered minor injuries from the fall and were taken to the hospital.
A total of 61 personnel and 20 pieces of equipment, including heavy machinery, were mobilized at the scene. However, due to the high risk of further collapse, the rescue operation was delayed.
The collapsed building was completed in 1978. The first floor was used as a food retail store, and the second floor served as a residence.
The police and fire authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the accident through a joint inspection with the National Forensic Service.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
