Risk of Collapse on Gwangmyeong Sinansan Line Was Already Notified the Night Before

Police Controlled Roads Immediately After City Was Notified on the Night of the 10th
Collapse Confirmed to Have Occurred During Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Safety Inspection

The collapse accident at the Sinansan Line double-track subway tunnel construction site that occurred at around 3:13 PM on the 11th was found to have shown signs of collapse since the previous day.

Road and surrounding shops collapsed due to the tunnel construction site collapse of the Sinansan Line on the afternoon of the 11th. Photo by Yonhap News

According to Gwangmyeong City, at 9:50 PM on the 10th, it was reported to the city at 11:49 PM that the tunnel arch-shaped central pillar was damaged in the collapsed construction section around 372-12 Iljik-dong. The damaged structure section identified by the city is the tunnel excavation area near ventilation shaft No. 5 on the main line of Section 5-2. The city is understood to have immediately requested police to control the hazardous area upon receiving the notification.

Accordingly, both directions of the 2 km section from Ori-ro Yangjisa Intersection to Hohyeon Samgeori, which includes the collapsed road section, were controlled, and four bus routes passing through this area were rerouted. The city sent 'safety advisory messages' starting at 2:08 AM on the 11th to inform the public of the road closure. The same messages were sent again at 4:27 AM, 5:15 AM, and 10:20 AM. Immediately after the collapse accident, at 3:55 PM, a message was also sent to nearby residents urging them to evacuate to a safe area.

The Sinansan Line double-track subway construction that collapsed this time is a private investment project led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The construction company is POSCO E&C.