A ceiling collapses at a mart in Gwaneum-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu, on Saturday morning. [Daegu Fire and Safety Headquarters]
A ceiling collapses at a mart in Gwaneum-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu, on Saturday morning. [Daegu Fire and Safety Headquarters]

A partial ceiling collapse at a food and grocery mart in Daegu's Buk-gu district on Saturday left about 30 visitors injured, nine of whom were taken to hospital. None of the injuries were life-threatening. President Lee Jae Myung ordered relevant agencies to "do everything possible to rescue those affected."

According to Yonhap and the Daegu fire department, the ceiling of a mart in Gwaneum-dong, Buk-gu, gave way at around 10:16 a.m. Saturday, sending visitors scrambling to evacuate.

All 66 visitors inside at the time of the collapse managed to exit the building on their own. Thirty-six sustained minor injuries during the evacuation.

Of those injured, nine have so far been transported to hospital.

A fire department official said the injuries appeared to have occurred when panicked visitors were scratched by debris as they fled. A search of the building after all visitors had evacuated found no additional casualties or other abnormalities, the official added.

Authorities plan to investigate the cause of the collapse after completing their search operations.

Cheong Wa Dae Chief Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said President Lee Jae Myung had been briefed by the acting national police chief on the ceiling collapse and directed relevant agencies to spare no effort in rescuing those affected and managing the aftermath.


yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com