1995 Daegu gas explosions
The 1995 Daegu gas explosions was a gas explosion that occurred at Taegu Metro Line 1, a construction site located in Sangin-dong, Taegu, South Korea, on 28 April 1995. At least 101 people, including 42 Yeoungnam Middle School students, were killed with as many as 202 people injured.[1]
Date | April 28, 1995 |
---|---|
Location | Taegu, South Korea |
Type | Gas explosion |
Deaths | 101 |
Non-fatal injuries | 202 |
Overview
The event occurred on April 28, 1995 at 7:52 a.m. in the underground construction site of the 2nd Section of the Sagley Subway Line 2 at Nam High School in Sangin-dong, Dalseo-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City. Construction work at the Daegu branch (대구점) of the Lotte Department Store in Buk-gu, Daegu, where 31 holes of 75 millimeter width that were going through a grout curtain were accidentally drilled through a city gas pipeline and resulted in gas leakages into the subway construction site through a nearby sewer, leading to the explosion triggered by an unknown fire at the site. The explosion created a 50-meter pillar of fire. The accident killed 101 people, including 42 students, and injured 202. The 400-meter-long private parking lot on the construction site collapsed, and 60 buildings and 152 cars were damaged and the damage reached 54 billion won.
Cause
- In case of underground excavation at a large construction site, it is necessary to contact the company that buried the gas pipe after inquiring about the position where the gas pipe is buried after obtaining permission from the relevant government office for road excavation. This was the reason for the incident.
- It was not until 30 minutes after the gas pipe was destroyed that it was reported to the city gas department and the damage was further increased.
Result
The damage caused by the accident occurred during the school day.
- 101 deaths (including 42 students at Youngnam middle school, 1 teacher, 2 police officers ), 202 injured
- Damage to 152 vehicles, damage to 60 houses, damage to buildings, 346 cases
Aftermath
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, which was set up to deal with the incident, discovered that it was an accident caused by negligence in the development of the Daegu Department Store, and arrested nine employees of the company on charges of business misconduct. Of course, excavator operation was also included.
This accident led to the necessity of computerized capitals for underground cargoes, the criticism of the authorities on safety management administration, the increase of the voice of the government and the public on the improvement of the emergency rescue system and integrated structure system, A countermeasure mechanism was established centering on the revision of related laws such as city gas business law.
- Cause: Establishment of a special safety inspection team, early construction of a mapping system for underground materials, mandatory pre-consultation with a gas company in road excavation and occupancy, mandatory to carry gas detectors to detect gas leaks,
- Surveillance aspect: Unification of field command, reinforcement of rescue equipments, training of professional manpower, distribution to the city hospital after emergency hospital treatment, establishment of press center and systematic promotion measures, quick and accurate reporting of accident scene Etc
Controversy
One housewife claimed to have reported the smell of gas four hours before the accident, but that night she said "I wanted to be on TV and lied".[2]
Hashan Park Memorial Tower
There is a monument in Wolsung - dong Hashan Park in Dalseo - gu, Daegu Metropolitan City .
On April 28, 2005, the last memorial service was held. The memorial ceremony was the last official memorial ceremony on this day. At the ceremony, about 500 people including family members and citizens attended the ceremony and prayed for the victims' souls.
References
- "어째서 또 이런일이... 大邱 가스폭발 百여명 사망" (Press release). Kyunghyang Shinmun. 29 April 1995. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
- "어째서 또 이런일이... 大邱 가스폭발 百여명 사망" (Press release). The Dong-A Ilbo. 29 April 1995. Retrieved 2018-01-07.