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S Korea building collapse: Ten dead and dozens injured S Korea building collapse: President calls for inquiry
(about 7 hours later)
At least 10 people have died and more than 100 were injured after a building collapsed at a resort in South Korea. South Korea's President Park Geun-Hye has called for a full investigation into the collapse of an auditorium near the city of Gyeongju that killed at least 10 and injured more than 100.
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. Emergency staff worked through the night to find survivors.
Nine of those killed were students. Officials say all the students are now believed to be accounted for. More than 560 college students were believed to be attending a concert when part of the auditorium caved in.
Fire services have blamed the weight of snow on the roof. The weather is also thought to have slowed rescue efforts. Nine of those killed in the disaster - blamed on the weight of snow on the roof - were students.
The auditorium structure failed during an orientation event for first-year university students from the southern city of Busan. The weather is also thought to have slowed down rescue efforts.
"It is heart-rending that so many lives were sacrificed... a thorough investigation must be carried out," Mr Park told a cabinet meeting.
Officials say all the students are now believed to be accounted for.
A large number of students from the Busan University of Foreign Studies had gathered at the auditorium of the Mauna Ocean mountain resort for a welcoming ceremony on Monday night during an orientation event for first-year university students.
"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."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."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. Rescuers continued searching the wreckage on Tuesday to check for anyone trapped inside, the AFP news agency reported.
Local media reports say the collapse happened at around 21:15 local time (12:15 GMT). Local media reports say the collapse happened at around 21:15 local time (12:15 GMT) on Monday.
'Crashing down''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. Many students managed to get out of the damaged building by themselves.
"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.
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 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. Gyeongju is a southern historic city that served as the capital of one of the Korean peninsula's ancient kingdoms, and is a popular tourist destination.
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.