Securing Access Road for 'Gwangju Apartment Collapse'... Full-Scale Rescue Operations Begin

Missing person found on basement level 1 on third day of search... status unknown for over 5 hours

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Rescue operations for one missing person in the Hwajeong I-Park collapse accident in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City are gaining momentum.

According to the fire authorities on the 13th, all vehicles on the west side road of the building have been towed, debris cleared, and access routes secured.

Firefighters are currently using heavy equipment such as excavators to remove concrete rubble while searching for the missing person.

The missing person was first found around 11:14 a.m. on the third day of the search at the basement level 1 stair railing.

More than five hours after the discovery, the person's condition and identity have not yet been confirmed. With equipment deployed for full-scale rescue operations, it is expected that rescue news will be heard soon.

Inside the building, 85 rescue workers and 10 rescue dogs have entered and are conducting search operations.

Outside, depending on safety risks, nine drones are being used to search with thermal imaging cameras.

A total of 463 personnel have been dispatched to the site, including 266 firefighters and 175 police officers.

One worker sustained minor injuries in the accident and is receiving treatment at a hospital, while six workers are currently uncontactable.

There are on-site reports that some of the workers are able to make phone calls, but this has not been confirmed. If a phone call is made during the rescue operation and a dial tone is heard, it would facilitate the search efforts.

The missing workers are presumed to have been performing window installation and other work on floors 28 to 31, where the outer wall and structure collapsed.

Fallen debris also buried about ten vehicles parked nearby.

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