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Construction worker killed in Seoul building collapse
By Lim Jeong-yeoPublished : July 19, 2016 - 11:52
A construction worker died in a sudden building collapse in Hongeun-dong, Seoul, Monday.
The 57-year-old victim surnamed Baek was found unconscious 4 meters from the building exit after a six-hour rescue effort, according to the Seodaemun-gu Fire Department.
Baek was taken to hospital but did not survive.
The 57-year-old victim surnamed Baek was found unconscious 4 meters from the building exit after a six-hour rescue effort, according to the Seodaemun-gu Fire Department.
Baek was taken to hospital but did not survive.
Seodaemun-gu Fire Department had deployed 175 rescue operators to save Baek. However, the operation only began after cutting off the electricity in the adjacent area.
Baek was trapped under heavy debris which delayed work to free him, according to the fire department.
A three-story building in Hongeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, collapsed around 2:05 p.m. on Monday while undergoing reconstruction work.
That morning, three construction workers had worked on gutting the first floor bathroom.
They were on standby for work in the afternoon when the building suddenly caved in.
Workers Kim, 56, and Park, 46, survived the incident except for some abrasions.
Surveillance camera footage of the moment the building collapsed was circulated by media.
The clip showed a group of elementary school children gathered just next to the building seconds before it crashed.
Seodaemun-gu Office has tentatively concluded the accident occurred due to an unauthorized alteration to the building’s core pillars.
The police are investigating whether safety regulations were being properly observed at the construction site.
If lax maintenance is found to be the reason behind the accident, those who are responsible will face legal action, the police said.
By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)
