DAEGU, South Korea — Panic erupted on Saturday morning, October 10, 2026 after a large section of ceiling plaster collapsed inside a supermarket building in the southeastern city of Daegu, injuring at least 38 people.
The disaster occurred around 10:16 a.m. on the second floor of a four-story commercial structure in the Buk District, where a vendor was hosting a kitchenware and household goods sales event aimed primarily at elderly shoppers.
Eyewitnesses described moments of sudden terror as heavy plaster and structural finish materials gave way without warning. Screams echoed through the retail space as debris crashed down onto shoppers below.
Sixty-six people managed to evacuate the building immediately following the collapse. Emergency responders quickly descended on the site, dispatching 60 firefighters and 14 pieces of heavy rescue equipment to sift through the rubble for trapped survivors.
"It instantly turned into chaos as customers screamed and tried to get out," reported local news outlets on scene. "Emergency personnel conducted a thorough search of the debris to ensure no casualties remained hidden underneath."
First responders confirmed that 38 individuals suffered injuries, consisting mainly of abrasions, cuts, and minor trauma. Nine of the injured were transported to nearby hospitals for further treatment, though fire department officials stated none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung was briefed on the incident shortly after it occurred and ordered relevant government agencies and emergency services to mobilize all available resources to assist victims and handle the aftermath.
Built in 1994, the four-story reinforced concrete building previously operated a major food supply market on its first floor before operations were suspended in late September.
Local authorities and police have cordoned off the area and launched an official investigation into the structural integrity of the ceiling and what caused the sudden collapse.
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