Deaths Reported in S. Korea Concert Accident
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Fourteen people are feared dead after a ventilation grate collapsed during a concert by a popular girls' band near South Korea's capital, authorities said.
Fire officials said on Friday that two people had been confirmed dead and 12 others were unresponsive after the accident in Seongnam, just south of Seoul. They said 10 others were seriously injured.
The officials said the victims were standing on the ventilation grate while watching an outdoor performance by the band 4Minute.
Television reports said 25 people fell more than 10 metres into an underground parking area when the grate collapsed.
Most of the dead and injured were students, the YTN news channel said, adding that the concert organisers had repeatedly urged the spectators to move off the grate before it collapsed.
About 700 people had gathered to watch the concert, the Yonhap news agency reported.
In February, the roof caved in on a student-packed auditorium near the southern city of Gyeongju, killing 10 people and injuring more than 100.
An investigation uncovered evidence of structural flaws and lax management controls.
The deaths prompted government promises of a national review of safety standards, as it became clear that poor regulatory oversight was a major contributor to the scale of the tragedy.
