'Gwangju Apartment Collapse' Day 3, Search and Rescue Continue Overnight

Decision to Dismantle Tilted Tower Crane... 1200t-Class Crane Headed to Gwangju

Police Accelerate Comprehensive Investigation into Accident Causes... Travel Ban Imposed on Related Individuals

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Search operations continue into the third night following the collapse accident at the newly constructed Hyundai Industrial Development apartment.

According to the search authorities, night search operations will proceed without interruption, as announced on the 13th.

While night searches were not conducted on the first and second days of the accident, the location of one missing person was identified that morning, prompting the continuation of search efforts.

Night search and rescue operations are planned to continue without a scheduled end time.

At around 11:14 a.m. that day, one missing worker was found on the stair railing of the basement level 1 of the collapsed building. A rescue team member conducting a detailed search from basement level 4 to ground level 1 discovered the individual.

The location was visually confirmed the previous day and identified during the detailed search. Due to a large accumulation of debris, significant time is required to remove steel wires and concrete piles. Currently, access routes beside the building are being secured, and heavy machinery is being deployed to assist the rescue operation.

The condition and identity of the found missing person have not yet been confirmed.

The authorities have decided to dismantle the tilted tower crane, which poses a risk of further collapse, and are bringing in a 1200-ton large crane to Gwangju for this purpose.

It is reported that assembling this crane will take about two days.

Hyundai Industrial Development plans to complete the tower crane dismantling work by the 17th at the earliest.

Alongside the on-site rescue and search operations, the police are accelerating a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the accident and hold those responsible accountable.

The Gwangju Police Agency Investigation Headquarters has reportedly requested permits, approval documents, and complaint records related to the apartment from the Seo-gu Office.

Previously, on the day before, search and seizure operations were conducted on three subcontractor companies hired by Hyundai Industrial Development, and the site manager of Hyundai Industrial Development is under investigation.

Additionally, travel bans have been imposed on the site manager, subcontractor representatives, supervisors, and other site personnel.

Meanwhile, at around 3:46 p.m. on the 11th, an accident occurred at the Hwajeong I-Park new construction site in Seo-gu, Gwangju, where the exterior wall of building 201 from the 23rd to 38th floors collapsed.

One person sustained minor injuries and was transported to a hospital, while six people went missing. The location of one of the missing six has been identified, and rescue operations are underway. The whereabouts of the remaining five are still unknown.

The construction company for the apartment is Hyundai Industrial Development, the same company responsible for the Hakdong 4 District redevelopment project, where 17 casualties occurred last June due to a building collapse during demolition.

Hyundai Industrial Development is involved in Seo-gu Hwajeong I-Park Blocks 1 and 2, Dong-gu Gyerim-dong I-Park SK VIEW, Unam 3 Complex reconstruction, and Hakdong 4 District redevelopment projects.

The Gwangju city government has issued a stop order for all construction projects carried out by Hyundai Industrial Development and is considering complete demolition and reconstruction of the Hwajeong I-Park site where the accident occurred unless safety can be assured.

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