Library under construction in South Korea collapses, killing 1 and trapping 3 under rubble

One construction worker has died and three others remain trapped after a catastrophic building collapse at a library construction site in Gwangju, South Korea on Thursday, according to local emergency officials.

The incident occurred during ongoing construction work at the library facility in South Korea’s sixth-largest city, located approximately 270 kilometers southwest of the capital Seoul. Emergency responders quickly mobilized after the collapse, which completely buried four workers under debris and structural materials.

Gwangju emergency officer Ahn Gyun-jae confirmed in a televised briefing that rescue teams managed to extract one worker from the rubble, but the individual was pronounced dead after being transported to a nearby hospital. The identity of the deceased worker has not yet been released pending family notification.

“We have successfully located a second worker trapped in the debris and rescue operations are actively underway to safely extract this individual,” Ahn stated. The conditions of the remaining two workers remain unknown as search efforts continue.

The emergency response has deployed significant resources to the collapse site, including heavy machinery, specialized equipment, and search teams. Ahn detailed that cranes have been brought in to carefully remove larger structural components while preserving potential survival spaces. Thermal imaging cameras are being utilized to detect body heat signatures beneath the rubble, and rescue dogs trained to locate survivors are assisting ground teams.

Drone technology has also been employed to provide aerial surveillance of the collapse site, helping coordinate rescue efforts and identify structural weaknesses that could pose additional dangers to both victims and rescue personnel.

Construction safety has been a persistent concern in South Korea’s rapidly developing urban centers. The country has experienced several high-profile building collapses in recent years, raising questions about adherence to safety regulations and construction standards. In 2021, the partial collapse of a five-story building under demolition in Gwangju killed nine people when it fell onto a bus.

South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor typically investigates such incidents to determine whether safety protocols were properly followed and if construction companies maintained appropriate oversight of their projects. Violations can result in significant penalties and criminal charges for responsible parties.

The collapsed library was part of Gwangju’s ongoing infrastructure development aimed at enhancing educational resources and public facilities in the region. The city, known as a cultural and educational hub in South Korea’s southwest, has seen substantial investment in public works projects in recent years.

Local authorities have established a command center at the site to coordinate rescue operations, which are expected to continue through the night. Family members of the trapped workers have gathered near the collapse location as they await updates on the rescue mission.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop of Gwangju arrived at the scene to oversee the emergency response and has pledged all available resources to rescue efforts. “We are doing everything humanly possible to reach those still trapped,” Lee told reporters at the site.

Weather conditions in the region remain favorable for rescue operations, though officials expressed concern that time is a critical factor in the survival chances of those still trapped beneath the debris.

The incident has prompted calls from civic groups for stricter enforcement of construction safety regulations throughout the country and more thorough inspections of ongoing building projects, particularly those involving public facilities.