Risk of Collapse at Goyang-si Madu Station Commercial Building... Hundreds Evacuated, No Casualties (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] On the morning of the 31st, at a commercial building near Madu Station in Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province, the pillar of the underground 3rd-floor parking lot cracked, causing the road near the building to collapse and hundreds of people to evacuate urgently. Although there were no casualties, related agencies are inspecting the site as the risk of building collapse cannot be ruled out.

According to Goyang-si, at around 11:34 a.m. that day, a report was received about a loud noise coming from the building. Immediately after the report, the management office made an announcement, and about 300 people (estimated by the fire department), including commercial tenants, visitors, and citizens from nearby buildings, evacuated urgently.

The police and fire authorities searched inside the building to check if there were any citizens who had not evacuated and set up a police line to control the area around the site.

Goyang-si, along with related agencies such as KEPCO and the district heating corporation, shut off gas pipes and inspected various underground pipelines and facilities beneath the road. They also entered the site with external experts to investigate the cause of the accident and conduct a safety inspection of the building.

There were no casualties from this accident, but citizens could not hide their anxiety.

One citizen posted on an online community in the Ilsan area, "I parked my car in the underground of this building and was going upstairs when my wife called me, so I hurriedly moved the car again," adding, "Although there was an announcement, I couldn't hear it, and seeing fire trucks and police cars in front of the building was terrifying."

Another Ilsan citizen said, "I was startled by a sudden thud and the building shaking," and added, "I evacuated in a hurry, but it was a heart-pounding experience on the last day of the year."

Goyang-si initially estimated that the accident occurred due to the cracking of a structural pillar in the underground 3rd-floor parking lot. However, since there have been statements about ground subsidence from before and related reports have also been received, it is expected that it will take more time to determine the exact cause of the accident.

The building where the accident occurred is a commercial building adjacent to Exit 8 near Madu Station, with three underground floors and seven aboveground floors, covering a total floor area of 12,730㎡. It is reported to house a total of 18 stores, including 9 restaurants, 2 entertainment establishments, and 5 beauty salons.

So far, it has been confirmed that the accident has not affected train operations at Madu Station. Goyang-si has issued an order to suspend the use of this building.

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