Daegu police set up investigation team after ceiling collapse

Police in South Korea's Daegu have assembled a task force of about 33 personnel to investigate a ceiling collapse that injured 38 people on October 10.

The team includes serious-accident investigators, forensic specialists and victim-protection staff, Yonhap reported. Police plan a joint inspection with the national forensic service and other agencies.

Ceiling finish material fell at 10:16 a.m. on the second floor of a four-storey building. A kitchenware sales event for older visitors was taking place there at the time.

Local fire and district officials said 66 people evacuated the building. Thirty-eight sustained minor injuries and nine were taken to hospitals. Nobody was in critical condition.

Firefighters deployed 60 personnel and 14 pieces of equipment to look for any additional casualties. Their search found none.

President Lee Jae Myung received a briefing and ordered agencies to ensure the rescue of victims and deal with the aftermath. Police will examine potential structural defects and whether safety precautions were followed. The cause of the collapse has not yet been established.