Dozens of shoppers, many of them elderly, scrambled for safety after a massive section of ceiling suddenly collapsed inside a South Korean store Saturday morning, sending debris crashing to the floor and injuring at least 38 people.
The frightening incident unfolded around 10:16 a.m. on October 10 in Daegu, a major city in southeastern South Korea, where approximately 66 people had gathered for a special sales event featuring kitchenware and other household products.
What began as an ordinary shopping trip quickly turned into chaos when the ceiling on the second floor of a four-story commercial building began giving way, forcing customers to flee as heavy plaster panels and metal supports fell around them.
Witnesses described hearing a tremendous crashing sound as the ceiling collapsed within seconds, leaving shoppers struggling to find their way through the debris.
One customer, identified only as Kim, 79, told South Korean newspaper The Chosun Daily that he immediately ran toward the exit when he noticed the ceiling beginning to buckle.
“It took less than 10 seconds for the entire ceiling to collapse with a roar,” he recalled.
Another shopper, 77-year-old Lee, described a terrifying moment when the falling materials suddenly darkened the room, leaving him fearing he would not make it out alive.
Lee said he covered his head with his arms and managed to crawl toward safety as pieces of the ceiling continued falling around him.
Emergency responders rushed to the building in the Gwaneum-dong neighborhood of Daegu’s Buk District, where customers were evacuating amid scattered debris and damaged ceiling fixtures.
According to the Daegu Fire and Safety Department, all 66 people inside managed to escape, although 38 suffered injuries during the collapse and frantic evacuation.
Nine people were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment, while others suffered relatively minor injuries, including cuts, scratches and bruises.
Despite the frightening circumstances, authorities confirmed that none of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries.
A fire department official said many people were hurt while trying to escape, with some sustaining scratches from falling building materials as panic spread through the room.
Photographs taken inside the building revealed extensive damage, with broken plasterboard, metal framing and other ceiling materials scattered across the floor. Large sections of the overhead structure were left exposed, illustrating how suddenly the shopping area had become dangerous.
Firefighters deployed approximately 60 personnel and 14 emergency vehicles to the scene, searching the damaged interior to ensure nobody remained trapped beneath the debris.
After completing their search, authorities confirmed that no additional victims had been found.
The building, constructed in 1994, had previously housed a grocery store on its first floor before that business closed in September.
The second-floor space, formerly used as a billiards hall, had recently been rented by a distribution company that began hosting sales events for older customers on October 3, just one week before the collapse.
According to SBS News, the company had been selling household goods, including kitchenware and electric blankets, when the accident occurred.
The ceiling area affected by the collapse reportedly measured approximately 2,130 square feet, leaving investigators with a substantial section of damaged construction materials to examine.
Authorities are now trying to determine why the ceiling failed and whether the accident could have been prevented.
Investigators are considering several possible explanations, including aging construction materials, corrosion, water damage, weakened ceiling supports and the weight of equipment installed above the shopping area.
Officials are also examining whether proper maintenance and safety inspections were conducted before the space reopened for commercial use.
Although the building was more than 30 years old, investigators have not established whether its age contributed to the collapse.
The Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency has assembled a special 33-member investigation team to examine the incident, drawing personnel from its forensic and serious accident investigation units.
Police also arranged a joint inspection with South Korea’s National Forensic Service and other agencies beginning Sunday, October 11, to determine the cause of the structural failure.
The investigation could establish whether the collapse resulted from deteriorating materials, improper installation, inadequate maintenance or another problem.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung was briefed on the emergency shortly after it occurred and instructed officials to prioritize rescue operations and ensure that those injured received appropriate assistance.
Prime Minister Han Seong-sook also directed national emergency agencies to mobilize available personnel and equipment and coordinate medical treatment for victims.
The rapid response helped authorities clear the building and account for everyone who had been inside, avoiding what officials acknowledged could have been a much more devastating outcome.
The incident has nevertheless raised concerns about the safety of older commercial buildings, particularly those that are repurposed for new businesses or temporary sales events.
Investigators will now need to determine whether the ceiling showed warning signs before the collapse and whether any building owners, operators or contractors failed to meet applicable safety requirements.
As of Sunday, October 11, authorities had not publicly announced criminal charges or identified a definitive cause.
For the shoppers who escaped, the experience was a terrifying reminder of how quickly an ordinary outing can become dangerous.
Although all 66 people survived, the sudden collapse left dozens injured and a busy shopping area covered in debris, with investigators now working to understand what caused the ceiling to come crashing down.
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