Dozens of people were injured Saturday after part of a ceiling suddenly collapsed inside a building in South Korea, sending debris crashing down as customers rushed to escape.
The incident happened at approximately 10:16 a.m. on October 10 in Daegu, a major city in southeastern South Korea.
Fire officials said 38 people suffered minor injuries in the collapse. Nine were taken to hospitals for treatment, while authorities said none of the victims was believed to be in critical condition.
The collapse occurred on the second floor of a four-story building in the city’s Gwaneum-dong neighborhood.
Local officials said a company was holding a kitchenware and household-goods sales event aimed at older customers when large sections of ceiling finishing material suddenly came down.
There were 66 people inside the area at the time.
All of them were able to evacuate the building, although dozens suffered abrasions, dizziness or other minor injuries during the collapse and the rush to get outside.
Emergency crews quickly flooded the scene.
Authorities dispatched approximately 60 firefighters and 14 pieces of emergency equipment while rescuers searched through the damaged area for anyone who might have been trapped beneath the debris.
No additional victims were found.
Photos from the scene showed large pieces of ceiling material scattered across the floor as firefighters and other emergency personnel searched the building.
Officials initially described the incident as a supermarket ceiling collapse, though later local reports indicated the accident occurred inside a commercial building where the sales event was taking place.
The four-story building was reportedly constructed in 1994, a detail investigators are expected to consider as they examine the condition of the property and determine why the ceiling material gave way.
Authorities have not yet announced an official cause.
Police and local safety officials are expected to inspect the building and review whether structural problems, deterioration, installation issues or other factors contributed to the collapse.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung was briefed on the incident and instructed government agencies to make every effort to assist anyone affected and properly handle the aftermath.
Traffic around the property was temporarily restricted while emergency crews completed their search and investigators began examining the scene.
Despite the number of people injured, officials said there were no reported fatalities or life-threatening injuries.
The investigation into what caused the ceiling to collapse remains ongoing.
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