Fire Authorities Warn of Additional Damage Risk Around Gwangmyeong Collapse... About 2,300 Residents Evacuated

The scene of the collapse accident that occurred on the 11th at the Sinansan Line construction site in Iljik-dong, Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do. Photo by Yonhap News

Due to the collapse accident that occurred on the 11th at the Shinansan Line underground tunnel construction site in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, concerns about additional damage have increased, and it is reported that about 2,300 residents living in the nearby area have been evacuated.

Hong Geon-pyo, Fire Prevention Director of the Gwangmyeong Fire Station, stated at a briefing at the site that day, "To prepare for secondary damage, we evacuated about 2,300 residents of 642 households in the nearby Prugio Apartments to eight locations, including the Citizen Sports Center." He added, "The traffic control section is from Gwangmyeong Yangji Intersection to Anyang Hohyeon Samgeori. At 6:31 PM, Korea Electric Power Corporation cut off the electricity, and around 7 PM, Samchully (city gas) cut off the gas supply."

Rescue and search operations for those trapped and missing underground at the accident site are ongoing. Director Hong explained, "Of the two people requiring rescue, one who has been contacted is being rescued by bringing in a crane, and the other person, who is out of contact, is being searched for with all available firefighting personnel." He added, "The site where the person requiring rescue is located is estimated to be a little over 30 meters underground. Safety is the top priority, so heavy equipment cannot be easily deployed, causing delays."

Lee Seong-hae, Director of the Korea National Railway Corporation, said, "Experts are coming to the site to conduct measurement work to confirm safety, and work will begin soon." He also stated, "Since rain is expected tomorrow, waterproof sheets, pumps, sandbags, and other flood control equipment have been mobilized to thoroughly prepare for the rainfall."

Meanwhile, at 3:13 PM that day, the underground tunnel construction site being built by POSCO E&C within Section 5-2 of the Shinansan Line double-track railway in Iljik-dong, Gwangmyeong City, collapsed, resulting in one person missing and one person trapped.