700 Now Feared Dead in Seoul Disaster

SEOUL — The number of people feared killed in the collapse of a Seoul department store soared abruptly to nearly 700 Thursday, sparking a furor among lawmakers and relatives.

Government officials announced that about 400 people, double an earlier estimate, are still missing; 260 bodies have been recovered.

News reports said city authorities had discovered that more than 200 people were excluded from the official tally but had covered up the omission in the face of the public outcry over a string of disasters.

The Sampoong Department Store collapsed June 29, apparently because of poor construction. Angry families also have criticized the slow pace of the rescue effort.

Grieving relatives clung to the hope of a repeat of the miracle rescue Tuesday of a young woman. When she was discovered, authorities thought three other survivors were near her. But when they reached her, they found no other people alive.