At least four workers were killed and six injured after a section of an under-construction elevated highway collapsed in South Korea on Tuesday.
The incident occurred near Cheonan, a city about 55 miles south of Seoul. At the time of the collapse, 10 workers were on the site and fell as the structure gave way, leaving them trapped beneath the debris, the National Fire Agency reported.
Rescue teams recovered one worker’s body from the rubble, while eight others were pulled out with injuries and transported to nearby hospitals. Two of the injured later succumbed to their wounds.
The tenth worker, who had been missing for hours, was eventually found dead, bringing the death toll to four. Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse.
The collapse occurred at 9.49am when five 50m-long steel structures, which had been hoisted into place by a crane, gave way one after another, local media reported.
State news agency Yonhap initially reported three fatalities, but the national fire agency said two people had died, later increasing the count of deceased to four. The fire agency said in a statement that five remained in serious condition.
Rescuers were searching for the trapped under the rubble at the construction site in Ipjang-myeon, about 85km south of the capital Seoul. The National Fire Agency said it had deployed 53 personnel and 18 rescue units, with additional staff on standby.
Footage aired by local broadcaster YTN captured the moment the bridge deck collapsed. In response, acting president Choi Sang Mok ordered emergency measures, directing all relevant agencies to mobilise resources for search and rescue operations.
The injured were being transported to hospitals, an interior ministry official told the AFP news agency earlier.
Authorities issued a level two emergency response, requiring personnel from nearby fire stations to assist at the scene. Investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the collapse.
Additional reporting by agencies.
