'Gwangju Apartment Collapse' Missing Persons Remain Unfound for Two Days... Search Suspended Due to Risk of Further Collapse

"Tilted Tower Crane Must Be Dismantled for Full-Scale Search" ... Full-Scale Search Expected to Begin on the 17th

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Search operations at Hwajeong I-Park in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, where the exterior wall collapsed, are facing difficulties.

As it is expected to take several days to dismantle the tower crane, which poses a risk to rescue activities, full-scale search operations are anticipated to begin on the 17th.

According to the fire authorities on the 12th, at around 11:20 a.m., six rescue dogs and rescue teams were deployed to search for the missing persons.

The search was conducted mainly in the basement areas where stability was secured. From the 4th basement floor to the 1st floor, a detailed search was carried out, and from the 2nd floor to the 38th floor, a visual search was conducted.

During this process, four of the rescue dogs showed unusual reactions between the 26th and 28th floors.

Currently, nighttime search operations have been suspended, and work is planned to resume tomorrow, starting from the basement floors up to the upper floors.

First, to conduct meaningful searches, the tower crane tilted more than 20 degrees must be removed.

Hyundai Development Company, the contractor of the collapsed building, planned to bring in a dismantling crane (1200t) in the evening and assemble it over two days.

The tower crane to be dismantled will be partially dismantled rather than entirely, with only the boom, operator's cabin, and part of the upper mast being removed to structurally maintain the retaining wall safely.

Afterwards, some debris and remaining collapsed materials will be removed.

The accident occurred at around 3:46 p.m. the previous day, when the exterior wall and structure from the 23rd to the 38th floors collapsed while concrete was being poured on the 39th floor rooftop at the apartment construction site.

One worker was slightly injured and is receiving treatment at a hospital, while six workers are missing.

Police and fire authorities, along with the contractor, have identified the status of all 394 workers (from 22 companies) at the site, and these six workers’ mobile phone locations were detected near the construction site but they have not been contacted.

It is estimated that they were working on window installation and other tasks between the 28th and 31st floors of the building where the exterior wall and structure collapsed.

Fallen debris also buried about ten vehicles parked nearby.

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