Phuket Gazette World News: Snow causes building collapse in South Korea, 10 killed

– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: Ten people attending a welcoming party for new university students were killed when a building at a South Korean mountain resort collapsed late on Monday, emergency officials said, trapping dozens in snow and rubble for several hours.

About 560 students had gathered in the auditorium of the golf resort in the mountains in the city of Gyeongju, around 375km southeast of Seoul. Heavy snow had built up on the roof of the prefabricated building, causing it to collapse, fire department officials said.

Further investigations were underway, they said.

Nine university students were among the dead and 23 were injured. Emergency officials said all those trapped had been rescued several hours later and the injured were receiving medical treatment.

Many South Korean university students travel out of town for university orientation programmes, often staying in camps or resorts.

— Phuket Gazette Editors