Teen Girl Falls from 13th Floor, Kills Child and Injures Two: Community Grieves Over Tragic Gwangju Incident
A heartbreaking tragedy struck Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, on the afternoon of July 7, when an 18-year-old girl (referred to as A) fell from the 13th floor of a mixed-use building and landed on passersby below, resulting in one fatality and two critically injured victims.
According to authorities, the incident occurred around 2:34 PM KST. A’s fall fatally struck an 11-year-old girl (B), who died at the scene. Her mother, C (45), and the teen herself were both rushed to the hospital in cardiac arrest. A third victim, D (23), suffered shoulder injuries and is undergoing treatment.
Initial investigations revealed that A had visited a psychiatric clinic located inside the same building shortly before the fall, around 2 PM. Officials are currently looking into whether this visit is related to the circumstances surrounding her fall.
Authorities are investigating whether the fall was intentional or accidental and are expected to review CCTV footage, witness testimonies, and medical records in the coming days. The tragedy has ignited widespread grief and frustration across South Korean social media platforms, with many users expressing sorrow for the victims and demanding better mental health infrastructure and public safety measures.
Netizen Comments:
- “Ha… seriously, I can’t help but curse. If you were going to do it, why not just jump into a river or something instead… this is insane.”
- “Sigh… It’s not even like a bolt from the blue, this is just devastating.”
- “She took her own life and in the process took the lives of a mother and daughter… What is the father supposed to do now? It’s heartbreaking for the girl who fell, but even more so for the innocent victims.”
These reactions reflect a growing sentiment that more mental health resources and protective measures are urgently needed to prevent such unthinkable tragedies.
