Department Store Food Hall Ceiling Collapses; No Injuries Reported

An accident occurred on the afternoon of the 31st in the underground food hall of Lotte Department Store Centum City in Haeundae-gu, Busan, where a portion of the ceiling collapsed, suspected to be caused by a coolant pipe leak.

The incident took place around 3:03 PM on the first basement floor of the food hall. Ceiling finishes and some internal facilities fell, and water poured through ceiling gaps, flooding the floor. The collapsed section of the ceiling measured approximately 5 meters in width and length.

No one was injured in the accident. About 150 customers and staff in the underground food hall were evacuated, and no casualties have been confirmed so far.

The department store attributes the accident to a coolant pipe leak within the ceiling. Immediately after the incident, the department store concluded its business day early. Haeundae-gu has requested a suspension of operations until a safety inspection is completed and has demanded the submission of a relevant plan.

Fire authorities and local government officials plan to determine the exact cause of the accident and the necessity for additional measures based on on-site safety protocols and facility inspection results.