8 dead, dozens trapped in resort roof collapse
Print Edition
The roof of a resort auditorium collapsed during a welcoming ceremony for South Korean university freshmen, killing at least eight students and seriously injuring 15 others, officials said early this morning.
Dozens more were feared trapped as heavy snow reportedly hampered rescue operations.
Police officials quoted by the Yonhap news agency said eight people had been confirmed killed in the collapse and around 50 more were thought to still be trapped inside the building.
A spokesman for the local fire service said that 73 people were injured, 15 of them seriously.
South Korean media reported that the heavy snowfall was believed to have resulted in the collapse, but the cause was still being investigated.
The collapse came as about 1,000 students from Busan University of Foreign Studies gathered for freshman orientation at the Mauna Ocean Resort in the southeastern city of Gyeongju.
As many as 450 students were believed to have been attending a concert in the building when the roof caved in around 9:15pm.
“The ceiling came crashing down at the front near the stage,” one student told the YTN news channel. “Pandemonium broke out and everyone rushed toward the exits, shouting and screaming,” he added.
Yonhap said around 300 rescuers were at the scene.
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