DAEGU, South Korea | October 11, 2026 | At least 38 people were injured after sections of a ceiling collapsed during a sales event at a supermarket in Daegu, South Korea, on Saturday, prompting the evacuation of 66 people and a police investigation into the cause of the accident.
The collapse occurred at about 10:16 a.m. on October 10 on the second floor of a four-story commercial building in the southeastern city, according to the Daegu Fire Department and Yonhap News Agency. A kitchenware sales event attended largely by elderly customers was underway when ceiling materials fell.
Authorities said the injuries were minor, including abrasions sustained as shoppers escaped. Nine people were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, but none was reported to be in critical condition. Firefighters deployed about 60 personnel and 14 pieces of equipment to search the premises for additional victims. No further casualties were found.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung was briefed on the incident and instructed officials to prioritize rescue operations and ensure a thorough response, according to his office.
The Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency formed a dedicated investigation team to determine what caused the ceiling materials to collapse and whether safety requirements had been followed. Yonhap reported that police planned a joint on-site examination with forensic authorities and other relevant agencies.
Local reports said the second-floor space had been vacant for an extended period before a company resumed operations there earlier in October. Investigators are expected to examine the building’s condition and whether structural defects or failures in safety management contributed to the incident. No cause has yet been established.
The accident has renewed concerns about building safety and the protection of shoppers, particularly older people attending crowded commercial events. South Korea has experienced major building and infrastructure disasters in the past, including the 1995 collapse of the Sampoong Department Store in Seoul, which killed 502 people and exposed serious failures in construction oversight and safety management. That disaster led to heightened public scrutiny of building inspections and accountability, although investigators have not established any connection between it and the Daegu incident.
Authorities are continuing their investigation, with findings expected to clarify why the ceiling collapsed and whether further safety measures or legal action will be necessary.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
