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Gwangju Library Collapse: 2 Dead, 2 Trapped in Tragic Construction Accident

A tragic accident unfolded at a library construction site in Gwangju, South Korea. A steel structure collapsed, killing two workers and leaving two others trapped in the rubble. The incident happened during a concrete pour, with the second-floor rooftop collapsing down to the first. Rescue teams worked into the night as President Lee Jae Myung called for a full mobilization of resources.

Key Points: Gwangju Library Construction Collapse Kills Two Workers

  • Collapse occurred while concrete was being poured on the second floor
  • Two rescued workers were pronounced dead at the scene and hospital
  • The rooftop fell to the first floor with no supports in between
  • President Lee ordered an all-out rescue effort for the trapped victims
2 min read

South Korea: Two killed, two trapped after collapse at library construction site in Gwangju

A steel structure collapse at a Gwangju library site killed two workers, with two others trapped. Rescue operations continue as authorities investigate the cause.

"mobilize all available personnel and equipment - President Lee Jae Myung"

Gwangju, Dec 11

A steel structure collapsed at a library construction site in the southwestern city of South Korea's Gwangju on Thursday, killing two workers and trapping two others, authorities said.

The accident was reported at 1:58 pm, prompting firefighters to respond to the scene where they rescued a 47-year-old worker, who was taken to a hospital in cardiac arrest but later pronounced dead.

Firefighters spotted the second victim, who remained unresponsive, earlier in the day, before finally rescuing him at 8:13 pm, according to officials, Yonhap News Agency reported.

He was pronounced dead on site, with officials working to figure out the identity of the victim.

Two others are still unaccounted for, officials said, adding they plan to continue search operations overnight.

The four victims were identified as technicians affiliated with a subcontractor, with all of them being Korean nationals.

Firefighting officials said the structure appeared to have collapsed while ready-mixed concrete was being poured.

A construction site official told Yonhap News Agency the rooftop of the second floor appeared to have collapsed down to the first floor, with no supports installed in between.

The library under construction was being built by the Gwangju metropolitan government on the site of a former waste incineration plant.

The 51.6 billion-won (USD 35 million) project was being built to cover a total floor area of 11,286 square meters across two stories above ground and two floors in the basement.

Meanwhile, South Korean President President Lee Jae Myung ordered authorities to make all-out efforts to rescue workers trapped in the rubble of a collapsed library construction site in the southwestern city of Gwangju.

Lee gave the instruction during a policy briefing by the labour ministry in the administrative city of Sejong, after a steel structure at the construction site collapsed at around 2 p.m., killing one worker and trapping three others.

Lee called on the relevant ministries to "mobilize all available personnel and equipment" to rescue the trapped workers.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Horrible news. The detail about no supports being installed between floors is shocking. It sounds like a clear-cut case of negligence. Hope the trapped workers are found safe and the families get justice.
R
Rohit P
A library being built on a former waste plant site... makes you think about the ground stability too. So sad. These workers are just trying to earn a living. The contractor must be held accountable. Safety protocols exist for a reason.
P
Priyanka N
It's good that the President has ordered all-out efforts, but it's reactive. The real need is proactive safety. In our rush for development, whether in India or abroad, worker lives cannot be collateral damage. Very sobering.
M
Michael C
A $35 million project and they couldn't ensure basic structural supports? This is heartbreaking. My thoughts are with the rescue teams working through the night. Hope they find the missing two soon.
K
Karthik V
Such incidents are a grim reminder for all developing nations, including India. We focus on the speed and cost of projects, but the human cost of cutting corners is the highest. Prayers for the victims.

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