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S Korea building collapse: At least nine dead S Korea building collapse: Ten dead and dozens injured
(35 minutes later)
At least nine people have died and 17 more have been seriously injured in a building collapse at a resort in South Korea. At least 10 people have died and more than 100 were injured after a building collapsed at a resort in South Korea.
At least 10 people are still trapped under the wreckage in the south-eastern city of Gyeongju. More than 560 people were believed to be attending a concert in the south-eastern city of Gyeongju when part of the auditorium caved in.
Seven of those killed were students. Nine of those killed were students. Officials say all the students are now believed to be accounted for.
About 80 people received minor injuries, officials at the state-run National Emergency Management Agency said, when part of an auditorium fell in after heavy snowfall.
The structure failed during an orientation event for first-year university students from the southern city of Busan.
Fire services have blamed the weight of snow on the roof. The weather is also thought to have slowed rescue efforts.Fire services have blamed the weight of snow on the roof. The weather is also thought to have slowed rescue efforts.
Local media reports say the collapse happened at around 21:15 local time (12:15 GMT), though there is confusion over the number of students in the hall at the time. The auditorium structure failed during an orientation event for first-year university students from the southern city of Busan.
"We assume that the centre of the building was unable to withstand the weight of the snow, so it collapsed," firefighter Kim In-yoo said.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Security and Public Administration told reporters: "Ten people are confirmed dead, two were seriously injured and 101 others suffered bruises and cuts."
Rescuers continued searching the wreckage on Tuesday to check for anyone trapped inside, AFP news agency reported.
Local media reports say the collapse happened at around 21:15 local time (12:15 GMT).
'Crashing down'
A large number of students from Busan University of Foreign Studies were at the Mauna Ocean Resort, said an official, and many managed to get out of the damaged building by themselves.A large number of students from Busan University of Foreign Studies were at the Mauna Ocean Resort, said an official, and many managed to get out of the damaged building by themselves.
The students are thought to have been attending a concert in the auditorium when the roof fell in.
"The ceiling came crashing down at the front near the stage," one student told South Korea's YTN news channel. "Then pandemonium broke out and everyone started rushing towards the exits, shouting and screaming," he added."The ceiling came crashing down at the front near the stage," one student told South Korea's YTN news channel. "Then pandemonium broke out and everyone started rushing towards the exits, shouting and screaming," he added.
Gyeongju is a historic city that served as the capital of one of the Korean peninsula's ancient kingdoms, and is a popular tourist destination.
The area has experienced exceptionally heavy snowfall over the past week.The area has experienced exceptionally heavy snowfall over the past week.
The building was a modern, pre-fabricated structure, and local police have reportedly asked why the snow was not cleared from the roof before the party began, the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Seoul reports.
Rescue teams had to navigate heavy snow and icy mountain roads to reach the resort where the students were celebrating, our correspondent adds.
Gyeongju is a historic city that served as the capital of one of the Korean peninsula's ancient kingdoms, and is a popular tourist destination.
One of the world's worst peacetime building collapses happened in South Korea in June 1995, when Seoul's Sampoong Department Store collapsed, killing hundreds.One of the world's worst peacetime building collapses happened in South Korea in June 1995, when Seoul's Sampoong Department Store collapsed, killing hundreds.