Ceiling Collapse at Daegu Promo Event Injures 38, Mostly Seniors

Thirty-eight people were injured when part of a ceiling collapsed at a commercial building in Daegu during a promotional event targeting elderly consumers to sell kitchenware and other goods.

According to the Daegu Fire and Safety Headquarters and the Buk-gu District Office in Daegu, the entire ceiling suspension system fell on the second floor of a four-story building in Gwaneum-dong, Buk-gu, at around 10:16 a.m. today (October 10).

The accident reportedly occurred as a specific section of the ceiling finish initially gave way, followed by other sections collapsing in succession over a span of about 10 seconds.

Investigations showed that the venue had been left vacant since March of last year before a company resumed operations there through a use agreement starting October 3.

Consequently, an event hosted by the company to sell kitchenware and other items to elderly people was underway on the second floor when the accident happened, prompting 66 people at the scene to evacuate outside.

During the evacuation, 38 people were counted as having sustained minor injuries.

Among them, nine were transported to hospitals.

While none of the injured were believed to be in life-threatening condition, some older individuals reportedly complained of dizziness and other symptoms. A fire official stated, "It is understood that citizens were injured, such as being scratched by building debris, while panicking and evacuating."

A police official said, "We have confirmed that items such as mats, pots, health foods, rice, and coffee were being sold at the accident site."

Event attendees met at the scene today vividly recounted the tense situation at the time.

A person in their 70s, surnamed A, said, "Dozens of elderly people were inside the building when the ceiling finishes started crashing down over our heads one after another."

A woman in her 70s, surnamed B, said, "I heard a sound like rats running across the ceiling, and then the finish collapsed like a wave. I was near the door entrance with a friend, and when I saw it collapsing, I panicked and ran out."

Immediately following the accident, fire authorities deployed 60 personnel and 14 pieces of equipment to search the area and carry out safety measures, and no additional casualties were found.

The building where the accident occurred is a four-story reinforced concrete structure built in 1994, and a food mart that operated on the first floor had suspended operations since late September.

Authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the ceiling collapse and the circumstances surrounding the accident.

To this end, the police plan to conduct a joint on-site inspection within next week after coordinating schedules with the National Forensic Service.

They also plan to investigate the building owner and others to review whether charges such as professional negligence resulting in injury can be applied to the incident.

In addition, they are considering forming a dedicated team to determine the cause of the accident.

The local jurisdiction, Buk-gu District Office, also plans to take follow-up measures regarding the accident, such as conducting an on-site building inspection along with the police and fire departments.

The accident building has a total floor area of 892 square meters and was found not to be subject to statutory regular safety inspection obligations, raising concerns over blind spots in safety management for aging buildings.

Experts pointed out that small-scale buildings lack mandatory structural safety inspections, emphasizing the need for safety education targeting building owners and strengthened management systems.

Buk-gu District Mayor Lee Keun-soo said, "I am deeply regretful that an accident occurred due to a falling ceiling finish during a promotional event," adding, "We will do our utmost to handle the aftermath of the accident together with related agencies such as the police and fire department."

(Photo provided by Daegu Fire and Safety Headquarters, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.