Ceiling collapse in Daegu's Buk-gu caused by falling finishing material; police form dedicated investigation team

The ceiling collapse at a building in Gwaneum-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu, was caused by falling interior finishing material, authorities said Saturday.

According to the Daegu Fire and Safety Headquarters and the city of Daegu, the collapse occurred at around 10:16 a.m. Saturday on the second floor of a four-story building in Gwaneum-dong, Buk-gu. Investigators determined that a "banja" — a finishing panel or structure installed on the ceiling — had fallen.

At the time, a retail company had been renting the second-floor space, which had been vacant since a billiards hall closed, from Oct. 3 for one month to hold a sales event targeting elderly residents nearby, selling products such as electric heating pads. Authorities believe the aged ceiling panel fell because of fixtures installed for the event.

Sixty-six people inside the venue detected warning signs just before the collapse and evacuated on their own.

Of those, nine sustained minor injuries after being grazed by falling debris and were taken to hospital. Their conditions are not believed to be life-threatening.

Fire authorities immediately deployed 60 personnel and 14 pieces of equipment to search the scene and carry out safety measures.

The building was initially reported to be a supermarket, but the structure where the accident occurred is a four-story building constructed in 1994. The food ingredient mart that had operated on the first floor suspended business in late September.

Police and fire authorities plan to preserve the scene before investigating the exact cause of the accident. The Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency has formed a dedicated investigation team to look into the circumstances of the incident and whether proper safety measures had been in place.

The team is led by the head of the wide-area investigation unit and comprises 33 members in total — 23 officers across three units including the serious accident investigation section, six forensic investigators, two public affairs officers and two victim protection officers.

Police plan to conduct a joint forensic inspection Sunday morning at around 9 a.m. with the National Forensic Service and relevant agencies.

"We plan to investigate whether there were structural defects or failures to implement safety measures through interviews with those involved," a police official said.

Meanwhile, Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho received a report on the accident shortly after it occurred and visited the scene at around 1 p.m. Saturday. "I ask that you thoroughly enforce on-site safety measures, including restricting access to the building, and do everything possible to prevent further damage through expert safety inspections," Choo said.