South Korean Building Collapses – 8 Dead, 10 Trapped

Gyeongju, South Korea – A building in this coastal city of 264,000 people suddenly collapsed. Thus far, authorities say 8 people have died and ten are believed to be trapped in the rubble. 17 others were seriously injured and are receiving medical treatment. An official with South Korea’s National Emergency Management Agency, who wishes to remain anonymous, confirmed that 58 other people experienced minor injuries.

The structure which collapsed was an outdoor auditorium. At the time of the collapse, freshmen university students from neighboring Busan were undergoing an orientation meeting. Thus far, it is believed that the building buckled under the weight of snow. It is also reported that emergency crews have experienced delays in reaching the accident site because heavy snow has slowed traffic.

However, reports about the number of people injured is sketchy. One news source puts the total number of injured at 77 of which 15 are considered serious. Some say the students were at a concert when the accident occurred at 9:15PM local time.

One survivor told the local news station that the part of the ceiling over the podium caved in. He added that pandemonium broke out with people scattering for the exits amid screams.

“The ceiling came crashing down at the front near the stage,” one student told South Korea’s YTN news channel. “Then pandemonium broke out and everyone started rushing towards the exits, shouting and screaming,” he added.

On The Web:
S Korea building collapse: At least eight dead
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26231628

Roof of South Korean resort collapses at university freshman orientation, killing 9
http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/roof-of-south-korean-resort-collapses-at-university-freshman-orientation-killing-9-1.1690010