On Tuesday, a devastating accident occurred at a highway construction site located south of Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The incident resulted in the loss of at least four lives and left six individuals injured, with five of them in critical condition.
According to reports, the collapse took place at 9:49 a.m. in Anseong, approximately 70 km from Seoul. The collapse occurred as five 50-meter concrete structures supporting the highway bridge collapsed successively after being lifted into place by a crane.
Tragically, among the casualties were two Chinese nationals, highlighting the international impact of the incident. The victims were working on installing a deck on the bridge when the collapse occurred, causing them to fall from both sides of the structure.
Dramatic footage aired by YTN captured the harrowing moment when the deck of the towering bridge collapsed, underscoring the severity of the situation. Rescue efforts at the site involved examining the wreckage and searching for any potential survivors.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok swiftly responded to the tragedy by mobilizing all available resources to aid in the rescue operation and to implement safety measures to prevent further harm. The National Fire Agency and the Transport Ministry also deployed personnel and equipment to support the search and rescue efforts.
This unfortunate incident adds to a series of deadly accidents that have plagued industrial sites in South Korea. The country recently enacted a law aimed at addressing safety deficiencies and holding company management accountable in cases where workers lose their lives on the job.
Notably, earlier this year, a fire at a hotel construction site in Busan claimed six lives, while a fire at a lithium battery factory last year resulted in the tragic deaths of 23 workers. The construction sector, in particular, has been a significant contributor to industrial fatalities in South Korea.
Despite efforts to improve workplace safety, data from the South Korean labor ministry revealed that 598 industrial workers lost their lives in 2023, with the construction sector alone accounting for nearly half of the fatalities.
