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Sections of a partly constructed elevated highway fell one after the other, reportedly knocking off or burying 10 people working at the site
Four people were killed and six others injured on Tuesday when a highway construction site collapsed south of Seoul, Yonhap News reported, citing fire authorities.
The accident occurred at around 9:50am local time in the city of Anseong, about 65 km south of Seoul, during construction on a section of the Seoul-Sejong expressway, where a slab structure collapsed during bridge work.
Ten people reportedly fell and were buried under the rubble, when five 50-meter-long steel structures supporting the highway bridge collapsed one after another after being lifted into place by a crane.
🇰🇷 Bridge Collapse in South Korea Leaves 3 Dead, 5 InjuredThree workers were killed and five others injured after a bridge collapsed during the construction of an expressway in South Korea, according to Yonhap News. pic.twitter.com/EuXhTC1zXY
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) February 25, 2025
One of the four victims was recovered from the rubble at around 2:20pm local time, after which authorities concluded the rescue operation, the news agency said.
Dramatic footage aired by broadcaster YTN captured the moment the bridge deck gave way, sending a massive cloud of dust and debris into the air. Emergency responders, including firefighters and rescue personnel, were dispatched to the scene to search for survivors.
The builder, Hyundai Engineering, issued an apology for the loss of lives and injuries.
“We are actively cooperating with the relevant authorities to ensure a swift site recovery and a thorough investigation into the exact cause of the accident,” the company said in a statement on Tuesday.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok urged the mobilization of all available personnel and resources to locate any missing individuals and enforce safety measures to prevent further incidents, his office stated.
The cause of the collapse has not yet been determined. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the factors leading to the structural failure.
The incident adds to a series of construction-related accidents in South Korea in recent years, prompting renewed scrutiny over safety protocols and regulatory oversight in the industry.
In 2022, a 39-story apartment building under construction in Gwangju collapsed, killing six workers. Investigators blamed unauthorized construction changes and substandard materials.
In 2020, a fire at a warehouse construction site in Icheon claimed 39 lives and injured 10 others. The blaze was reportedly caused by flammable materials igniting during construction.
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