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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Ellie Kim] SEOUL, June 1, 2026 — A partial ceiling collapse at a department store in Busan forced the evacuation of around 150 people over the weekend, though no injuries were reported, fire authorities said.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:03 p.m. on May 31 at the basement-level food hall of Lotte Department Store Centum City in Haeundae District, according to the Busan Fire and Disaster Headquarters.
Officials said the collapsed section of the ceiling measured about 4 meters by 3 meters, with finishing materials and parts of the facility falling into the retail space.
Approximately 150 customers and employees were evacuated from the underground area as a precaution. No casualties were reported.
Images and video released by authorities showed debris scattered across the floor, exposed ceiling infrastructure, and water pouring through the damaged area. The floor was flooded, and additional sections of the ceiling were visibly sagging due to ongoing leakage.
The department store operator said the collapse is believed to have been caused by a leak in a cooling water pipe. Emergency safety measures were implemented immediately following the incident.
The store suspended operations about an hour after the accident, with some visitors expressing frustration over insufficient on-site guidance during the evacuation.
A representative from the store said the company is conducting safety inspections and working to determine the exact cause of the incident.
Alphabiz Ellie Kim 인턴기자(press@alphabiz.co.kr)
