Large sections of ceiling cladding collapsed inside a four-storey building in the South Korean city of Daegu, where a clearance sale of kitchenware for elderly people was under way. The incident occurred on Saturday at 10:16 local time on the building's second floor.
Thirty-eight people were injured in the collapse, nine of whom were taken to hospitals. Local authorities and the fire service reported the figures. After the incident, 66 people left the area, 38 of whom were found to have minor injuries, including scratches. None of the injured are in serious condition.
Sixty firefighters and 14 pieces of equipment arrived at the scene. Rescuers inspected the building to make sure no one remained trapped under the debris, but no other casualties were found.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung received a report on the incident from the acting police chief and instructed relevant agencies to take the necessary measures to provide assistance to the injured and deal with the aftermath of the incident.
The causes of the collapse will be established during the investigation. Daegu police have formed a special team of about 33 staff, which includes specialists in serious incident investigations, forensic examinations and victim protection. A joint inspection of the building, with the participation of the National Forensic Service and other agencies, is scheduled for Monday.
"We will check for possible structural defects and establish whether safety requirements were observed," a police representative said.
Such incidents are not rare in South Korea during large public gatherings, and this case in Daegu once again shows how an ordinary retail event can quickly turn into a mass hazard. Most of the injured were elderly people who had come for the discounts, which raises questions about control over crowd flows and building safety at such venues.
The authorities' response, from the president's report to the special police team, was swift, but the real answer will come from the investigation. If it turns out that the building did not meet safety requirements, this could have serious consequences not only for the organisers but also for the building's owners.
In the meantime, the Daegu case once again underscores that compliance with safety rules at mass events for elderly people must be a priority, not a formality.
