16 dead at South Korea pop concert as floor collapses

Sixteen people - many of them teenage girls - have been killed after a ventilation grate collapsed during a pop concert in South Korea on Friday. The victims were standing on the grate while watching an outdoor performance by the girl band 4Minute, who are popular across Asia. The viewers fell 20 metres into an underground parking area following the collapse, the Yonhap news agency and YTN TV reported.

They were standing on the ventilation grate to get a better view when it collapsed under their weight.

Seoul fire officer at the scene

After the accident in Seongnam, south of the capital Seoul, fire officials added that another 11 were seriously injured. The Yonhap news agency also reported that about 700 people had gathered to watch the concert, part of a local festival being held at Pangyo Techno Valley, a multi-purpose complex for technology firms. Around 20-30 people climbed on a grill over the deep ventilation shaft and under the weight, it gave way and the group on top fell through.

Asia-Pacific 4minute