Citizens Unite in 'One Heart, One Mind' to Support Rescue Efforts at Gwangju Apartment Collapse Site

Volunteer Fire Brigade and Volunteer Center 'Coffee and Ramen Service'... "Hope for a Quick Rescue"

Red Cross Gwangju-Jeonnam and Korea Electric Power Corporation Volunteer Groups Also Support Relief Meals

Members of the Seogu Volunteer Center are preparing warm tea and carrying out volunteer activities at the site of the collapse accident of the newly built Hwajeong I-Park apartment in Seogu, Gwangju.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] "I can't participate directly in the rescue operations, but I came out because I wanted to help even a little."

On the morning of the 12th, at the site of the Hwajeong I-Park exterior wall collapse accident in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City.

Hong Gisul (64), whose capillaries burst from the severe cold, causing his eyes to be bloodshot, was only worried about the missing persons.

Ignoring his ears reddened by the cold and his bloodshot eyes, he was busy looking for ways to assist in the rescue efforts.

Hong, a volunteer firefighter from the Western Fire Station, had been at the site since the day before, pitching tents and setting up order maintenance lines, rolling up his sleeves to help.

He raised his voice, saying, "The shortening of the construction period caused this tragedy. What fault do the workers doing the job have? The large corporation Hyundai Development Company must take great responsibility."

Including Hong, about 10 volunteer firefighters came out the day before, and about 20 on this day, pooling their efforts bit by bit. They are providing seamless support by dividing into morning and afternoon shifts.

They set up booths near the accident site and carried items such as thermos flasks, cup noodles, and coffee mix, conducting volunteer activities.

This was to cheer on those enduring the cold and participating in the rescue operations.

The Seo-gu Volunteer Center also stepped up. About 10 officials from this organization are participating in relief activities by distributing drinks and tea. They said they will stay until nighttime after 8 p.m.

Chief Jo Man-ho (60), who has been subsisting on ramen every meal, said, "A major disaster happened in Seo-gu, so I came out thinking I should help with the volunteers."

The Korean Red Cross Gwangju Jeonnam Branch also dispatched relief meal vehicles and is conducting considerable activities for citizens who have suffered mental and psychological shocks through the Disaster Psychological Recovery Support Center.

On the day of the accident, the day before, they supported 200 servings of cup noodles, and from the morning of this day, they are providing 200 servings of field meals such as cup noodles and drinks to personnel involved in the recovery work.

A signboard installed by the Korea Electric Power Corporation Social Service Group reading "We provide coffee, hot packs, masks, and mobile phone charging support" was also seen. They also set up a space where people can drink warm coffee and Pu-erh tea, each contained in thermos flasks.

Meanwhile, the accident occurred around 3:46 p.m. the day before, when the exterior wall and structure from the 23rd to 38th floors collapsed during concrete pouring on the 39th floor rooftop of the apartment construction site.

One worker was lightly injured and transported to the hospital, and six workers are missing.

After the police and fire authorities, along with the construction company, checked the status of all 394 workers (from 22 companies) at the site, it was found that the six missing workers' mobile phone locations were detected near the construction site, but contact has not been made.

They are presumed to have been working on window installation and other tasks on the 28th to 31st floors of the building where the exterior wall and structure collapsed.

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