Jeju wall collapse forces urgent evacuation

Seven residents were quickly evacuated on Jeju, where monsoon rains have continued, after part of a stone retaining wall supporting a three-story building collapsed.

At around 9:58 a.m. Saturday, a report was received that part of the stone retaining wall at the base of a three-story building near the Seogwipo autonomous police unit in Seogwipo, Jeju, had collapsed.

The city of Seogwipo, together with fire, police and autonomous police authorities, evacuated all seven residents of the building's five households, then set up a safety perimeter around the structure and restricted access.

The collapsed section of the wall measures 5 meters (16 feet) in length and 3 meters in height. Fortunately, no casualties occurred.

The Jeju provincial government believes part of the wall gave way after the ground beneath the aging building was weakened by the recent stretch of monsoon rains, and is investigating the exact cause of the accident.

The province and the city of Seogwipo plan to draw up restoration and safety measures for the building and the retaining wall following expert consultation and a safety assessment.

"We will support the evacuated residents so that they do not experience inconvenience or anxiety, and move quickly on the cause investigation, safety assessment and restoration so that residents can return to their daily lives with peace of mind as soon as possible," Jeju Governor Wi Seong-gon said, visiting the site that day.

BY JEONG HYE-JEONG [[email protected]]