A worker went missing after a collapse at the construction site of the Shinan Line underground tunnel in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, prompting firefighting authorities to continue search operations for six days.
The Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced on the 16th that it had excavated to a depth of 21 meters out of a total depth of 34.5 meters from ground level to the underground tunnel at the collapse site. They also secured a passage to the lower part of the underground tunnel and removed about 300 tons of soil and debris overnight using a small excavator. Fire authorities conducted several search operations with four rescue dogs but did not find the missing person.
The incident occurred around 3:13 p.m. on the 11th when the upper road collapsed at the construction site of the underground tunnel being constructed by POSCO E&C for the double-track Shinan Line segment 5-2. A worker in his 50s belonging to POSCO E&C is missing and is presumed to be located at a depth of 35 to 40 meters underground.
On the same day, firefighting authorities decided to deploy 73 personnel and 26 pieces of equipment, including a special response team, for the search operation. A total of 199 personnel and 42 pieces of equipment will be supported by related agencies, including the police, Gwangmyeong City, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and POSCO E&C.