Firefighters are conducting rescue operations while navigating through the collapsed debris. Photo by Changwon Fire Headquarters
In connection with the collapse of an old building in Masanhoewon-gu, Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, which resulted in four casualties in July, the police have referred the building owner to the prosecution.
The Masan Dongbu Police Station announced on the 28th that it has sent a man in his 50s, identified as Mr. A, to the prosecution without detention on charges of occupational negligence resulting in death and injury.
According to the police, Mr. A is the owner of a two-story old building in Yangdeok-dong, Masanhoewon-gu. He is accused of failing to fulfill his duty to implement safety measures despite signs of an impending collapse, resulting in the death of one tenant and injuries to three others.
It was found that, even after receiving complaints from tenants two to three months before the accident regarding cracks in the walls and unusual noises, Mr. A took no action such as on-site inspections, safety assessments, or evacuation guidance.
Mr. A reportedly admitted his negligence during the police investigation.
Previously, at around 10:46 p.m. on July 31, the floor of the second story (the ceiling of the first floor) of a two-story mixed-use building in Yangdeok-dong, Masanhoewon-gu, Changwon, collapsed.
As a result of the accident, a Chinese national in his 50s who was in the first-floor store was killed after being trapped under the debris, while three women in their teens, 30s, and 40s living on the second floor sustained minor injuries after falling. Another person who was on the first floor managed to escape on their own.
The collapsed building, completed in 1978, had a total area of 164 square meters and two above-ground floors. The first floor was used as a food retail store, while the second floor served as a residence.
The police, in cooperation with the National Forensic Service and other agencies, conducted a joint investigation and concluded that the cause of the accident was likely the aging of the building, including corrosion of the steel reinforcement.
Based on the results of the investigation, the police determined that Mr. A's neglect of his safety management duties led to the casualties, and have referred him to the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office.
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