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Roof Collapse: Nine Killed And 10 'Trapped'

At least nine people have been killed and about 10 others are feared trapped after the roof of a building collapsed in South Korea.

It was apparently caused by heavy snowfall that had piled up on top of an auditorium at a resort in the southern city of Gyeongju.

Seven university students were among the dead.

About 550 of them had reportedly been attending a welcoming ceremony in the building when the incident happened around 9pm local time.

Eighty were taken to hospitals with minor injuries.

But many of those who were caught up in the collapse managed to get out by themselves.

One student told the YTN news channel: "The ceiling came crashing down at the front near the stage.

"Then pandemonium broke out and everyone started rushing towards the exits, shouting and screaming."

Pictures from the Yonhap news agency showed injured students being carried away on stretchers from the largely metallic structure that appeared to have buckled in on itself.

"Heavy equipment has been brought in to clear the debris," a fire official said.

The students from Busan University of Foreign Studies had been at the Mauna Ocean Resort for an orientation event.

The area has experienced exceptionally heavy snowfall over the past week.

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