In 1995, a luxury department store in Seoul collapsed in just twenty seconds
The sudden collapse of the prestigious Sampoong Department Store in 1995 remains one of the deadliest structural failures in history, claiming hundreds of lives in the heart of Seoul.
In June 1995, the five-story Sampoong Department Store collapsed in just twenty seconds, trapping thousands of shoppers and employees. The disaster killed 502 people and was later traced to criminal negligence and structural modifications that weakened the building's support columns. Despite visible cracks appearing earlier that day, the owners refused to evacuate the crowded luxury mall.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 3-question quiz