Emergency response teams in Gwangju, South Korea, are conducting urgent rescue operations following the collapse of a steel structure at a library construction site on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred at approximately 1:58 PM local time (0458 GMT) in the city located 270 kilometers south of Seoul.
According to reports from Yonhap News Agency, two construction workers remain trapped beneath the collapsed framework. Fire and rescue authorities immediately deployed to the scene following the structural failure, though specific details regarding the workers’ conditions have not been disclosed.
The collapse has raised immediate concerns about construction safety protocols at the developing site. Local officials have cordoned off the area while specialized teams work to stabilize the debris and extract the trapped individuals. The library project, part of the city’s urban development initiative, now faces scrutiny as investigators prepare to examine the causes behind the structural failure.
This incident highlights ongoing challenges in construction safety within rapid development projects across South Korea. The response operation continues as rescue teams work against time to locate and extract the workers from the precarious situation.