On the morning of the 25th, a structure collapsed on a bridge at a highway construction site in Dorim-ri, Ichang-myeon, Seo-gu, Cheonan, Chungnam, as captured by a vehicle's black box. /Courtesy of Yonhap News

A collapse accident occurred at a highway construction site in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. The accident resulted in 10 casualties. Authorities issued a national firefighting mobilization order at one point. The national firefighting mobilization order refers to measures to mobilize national firefighting resources to the disaster site when it's difficult to respond to a disaster with local firefighting resources alone.

The firefighting authorities reported that an accident is presumed to have occurred around 9:49 a.m. on the 25th at the construction site of the Seoul-Sejong Expressway in Sanpyeong-ri, Seowun-myeon, Anseong City, Gyeonggi Province, where a structure above a pier collapsed.

The accident resulted in the deaths of 4 workers, with 5 seriously injured and 1 sustaining minor injuries. Among the deceased, 2 were Chinese, and 1 of the injured is also of Chinese nationality. The firefighting authorities deployed 3 helicopters, 48 pieces of equipment, 147 personnel, and 5 rescue dogs for the rescue operation. Ajae University’s doctor helicopter was also dispatched for the transportation of those seriously injured.

Around 9:50 AM on the 25th, a collapse occurred at the highway construction site in Ichang-myeon, Seo-gu, Cheonan, Chungnam, prompting the firefighting authorities to issue a Level 2 response. The photo shows the scene of the accident that day. /Courtesy of News1

The firefighting authorities arrived at the accident site at 9:59 a.m., 10 minutes after receiving the report. They subsequently determined at 10:03 a.m. that there was a possibility of multiple casualties, prompting the issuance of the second response level.

The National Fire Agency issued a national firefighting mobilization order at 10:15 a.m. The affected areas included Gyeonggi Fire, Chungbuk Fire, and the Central 119 Rescue Headquarters (Chungcheong-Gangwon 119 Special Rescue Team, Metropolitan 119 Special Rescue Team, Siheung 119 Chemical Rescue Center, Seosan 119 Chemical Rescue Center). The response level was downgraded to the first stage at 11:40 a.m., and the response level was lifted at 2:31 p.m.

In the afternoon of the 25th, the collapse of a bridge is visible at a construction site for the Seoul-Sejong Expressway in Seowoon-myeon, Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. According to the fire department that day, a steel structure collapsed while moving equipment for beam installation, causing concrete supports installed on the bridge to fall to the ground. /Courtesy of News1

The accident occurred during the consolidation work on the deck that was placed on the Cheongnyangcheon Bridge pier section toward Pocheon on the Seoul-Sejong Expressway between Sejong and Pocheon. It is reported that the deck being moved by a crane fell. The pier height is said to be up to 52m, and the distance of the deck fall section is reported to be 210m. The construction company for the accident section is Hyundai Engineering.

Ko Kyung-man, head of fire prevention at Anseong Fire Station, said in a briefing at the scene, “Initial findings indicate that an accident occurred while 10 people were moving machinery for installation work on the pier.” The firefighting authorities and police are currently investigating the exact cause of the accident.

Choi Sang-mok, acting president and Minister of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, urgently instructed, “Do your best in the search for the missing and ensure safety measures to prevent further casualties.”