A poorly constructed ventilation grate was responsible for the deadly accident at an outdoor pop concert in a city southeast of Seoul 10 days ago, police said Monday.
A total of 16 people plunged to their deaths during the concert in Seongnam on Oct. 17 as the grate over the ventilation shaft they were standing on to get a better view gave way under their weight.
Eleven others were seriously injured.
The ventilation facility was not constructed tightly enough to withstand pressure, investigators at the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency in Suwon, a city just south of Seongnam, said, citing a report by the state forensic lab.
“The accident occurred when one of the two parts supporting the ventilation grate broke, and the welded part snapped,” said an investigator, adding that the bolts were poorly welded.
Investigators said they had carried out an experiment with the help of experts in the fields of construction, engineering and machinery.
“We have confirmed that overall the facility was poorly constructed,” said the officer.
Also, police said they are mulling over bringing criminal charges against up to six concert organizers and employees of the company that installed the ventilation grate.
“Those who had previously been summoned to face questioning may become suspects,” said the officer, adding that they have already been banned from leaving the country.
Some 700 people attended the concert where various South Korean musicians, including girl group 4Minute, performed, according to the host. (Yonhap)
