The professional baseball SSG Landers team departed for a three-game series in Changwon but returned to Incheon after the games were canceled.
KBO said on the 31st, "On March 29, due to an accident at NC Park in Changwon, a fan who loved baseball unfortunately passed away. KBO expresses deep condolences to the victim and their family. Additionally, we sincerely wish for the swift recovery of the two injured individuals who are still suffering from their injuries," paying tribute to the victim of the NC Park structural collapse accident.
The accident occurred at around 5:20 p.m. during the game between NC and LG held at NC Park on the 29th. A structure (2.6 meters long, 40 cm wide aluminum "louver") fixed to the wall near the concession stand on the third base side fell, injuring three spectators below. Among the three injured in this accident, two were sisters in their 20s who came to watch the game together.
One of the sisters, a woman in her 20s who was struck on the head by the structure, was in critical condition and was taken to the hospital for surgery but unfortunately passed away on the 31st. The younger sister also suffered from a fractured collarbone and is undergoing treatment in the hospital. Another individual sustained a leg injury and was transported to the hospital due to significant psychological shock.
KBO, which expressed condolences for the victims of the accident, announced, "From April 1 to 3, a mourning period will be observed, and no games will be held on the 1st in remembrance of the victims." All games of the three-game series between NC and SSG at NC Park where the accident occurred were canceled. The remaining four stadiums will hold games but will not conduct any cheering.
The SSG team, heading to Changwon for the three-game series, is returning to Incheon after hearing the cancellation news while on the bus. Having spent all day on the bus, the SSG team plans to take a break on April 1 and start training from the 2nd.
Ahead of the substantial travel to Changwon, the SSG team had expressed concerns on the 30th during the Gocheok Kiwoom away game about the continuously unstable schedule for the Changwon games. Given the major accident that resulted in casualties and the lack of completion of safety checks, they hoped the games would be postponed.
However, KBO decided on the 30th to hold the Changwon three-game series as an empty stadium event, and the SSG team departed for Changwon as scheduled. Nevertheless, following the fatality, KBO made the decision to cancel the three-game series, forcing the SSG team traveling to Changwon to turn back to Incheon.
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