Four people lost their lives and six others sustained injuries when a bridge collapsed at an expressway construction site in Anseong, South Korea, on Tuesday, February 25. The disaster unfolded around 9:50 a.m. local time, approximately 65 kilometers south of Seoul. Among the deceased were two Chinese nationals, adding an international dimension to this tragic event. The collapse occurred as ten workers were on the deck, attempting to install a bridge deck.
The incident involved five 50-meter steel structures that were being hoisted into place by a crane. These structures collapsed sequentially, leading to the catastrophe. Hyundai Engineering, the main contractor responsible for the site, has publicly expressed remorse for the tragedy.
"We sincerely bow our heads in apology to those who lost their precious lives and were injured in the accident at our construction site," stated Hyundai Engineering.
"We are actively cooperating with the relevant authorities to ensure a prompt resolution on-site" and to identify the cause of the accident, Hyundai Engineering added.
Emergency response was swift, with the National Fire Agency deploying three helicopters and nearly 150 officials to conduct search and rescue operations. Initially, there was a miscommunication regarding the location of the incident, with reports incorrectly stating it occurred in Cheonan. However, the location was later confirmed as Anseong.
Ko Kyung-man, an Anseong fire official, provided more details on the workers' activities at the time of the accident.
"They were working to install a deck on the bridge," he explained.
He confirmed that four individuals had perished, including two Chinese nationals, while five of the six injured are currently in critical condition. All injured persons are receiving medical care at local hospitals.
The South Korean Transport Ministry has sent a team of officials to the scene to assist with investigations and ensure safety protocols are enforced. This accident highlights ongoing safety concerns within South Korea's industrial sector. Despite the introduction of stringent laws in 2022 aimed at addressing safety lapses and holding company management accountable for worker fatalities, deadly accidents remain frequent.
According to data released by South Korea's labor ministry in March, 598 industrial workers died in 2023, with the construction sector accounting for nearly half of these fatalities. Such statistics underscore the urgent need for improved safety measures and enforcement across industrial sites nationwide.
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