Death Toll Rises to 9 in Gwangju Building Collapse Accident

As Searches Continue, Damage Scale Expands... Possibility of Buried Victims Outside Bus Cannot Be Ruled Out

A five-story building under demolition in the Hakdong redevelopment area of Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City collapsed, crushing a city bus passing by on the road. Fire authorities are conducting rescue operations. Photo by Reader Provided

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] At the accident site where a five-story building under demolition in the Hakdong redevelopment area of Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City collapsed and crushed a city bus passing by on the road, multiple fatalities are occurring.

According to the fire authorities on the 9th, it was initially reported that 12 people were on the city bus, but as the search operation progresses, additional buried victims are being confirmed.

Currently, the number of bus passengers is identified as 17, of whom 9 have died and 8 (seriously injured) have been rescued and transported to the hospital.

The scale of the damage is increasing as the search continues.

The fire authorities are continuing the search, considering that the buried area is wide and there may be more buried victims.

At the time of the accident, demolition work was being carried out on the fifth floor using heavy equipment, and workers reportedly evacuated when abnormal signs such as sounds occurred just before the collapse.

It has been reported that there were no citizens passing by the bus stop and sidewalk right in front, and the passenger car following the bus stopped just before the accident and was not buried.

Currently, the fire authorities and related agencies are conducting rescue operations with 425 personnel and 63 pieces of equipment deployed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.