A steel structure at a library construction site in Gwangju collapsed Thursday, killing one worker and leaving three others trapped, officials reported.
The incident occurred at 1:58 p.m., prompting firefighters to rush to the scene. They rescued a 47-year-old worker, who was transported to a hospital in cardiac arrest and later pronounced dead. Another worker’s location was identified, and rescue efforts were underway, while two additional workers remained unaccounted for.
Authorities said the collapse appeared to occur while ready-mixed concrete was being poured. A construction site official noted that the second-floor rooftop seemed to have fallen onto the first floor, with no supporting structures in place between them.
The new library is being built by the Gwangju metropolitan government on the site of a former waste incineration plant. The 51.6 billion-won (approximately $35 million) project will span 11,286 square meters, with two stories above ground and two basement levels.