No News Yet on Missing Persons from Sinansan Line Collapse After Four Days of Search

Difficulties Entering Lower Tunnel Due to Numerous Hazards

Search efforts for workers missing due to the underground tunnel collapse in the Gwangmyeong section of the Sinansan Line subway are facing difficulties. The fire authorities conducted overnight search operations on the 14th, the fourth day since the accident, but have yet to find the missing persons.

On the 14th, 119 paramedics and police are conducting rescue operations for the missing at the construction site of the Shinansan Line subway section in Gwangmyeong, where a collapse accident occurred on the 11th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju

According to the fire authorities on the 14th, the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters carried out asphalt removal and excavation work using excavators overnight to secure a slope for rescuing the missing workers. They also completed securing excavators and containers spanning the collapse site and implemented measures to prevent soil runoff in preparation for rain.

The fire authorities explained that when rain began early in the morning, all operations were temporarily halted at 3:37 a.m. as a safety precaution, but work resumed around 6:30 a.m., about three hours later, as weather conditions gradually improved. The missing persons are estimated to be located 35 to 40 meters underground.

However, rescue workers have not yet been able to enter the lower part of the underground tunnel. The fire authorities stated that due to many hazards at the accident site, internal deployment is difficult until the safety of the workers is fully secured. From 9 a.m. on the same day, the authorities held a meeting with related agencies to discuss future search operation methods.

The accident occurred at 3:13 p.m. on the 11th in Iljik-dong, Gwangmyeong City, at the underground tunnel construction site of Section 5-2 of the Sinansan Line double-track railway, being constructed by POSCO E&C. The collapse involved the tunnel site and the road above it. One worker was trapped, and one went missing. The missing excavator operator was rescued after about 13 hours. However, the missing worker in his 50s, affiliated with POSCO E&C, has not yet been found.

The fire authorities reported an additional risk of collapse around 3 p.m. on the 12th and withdrew rescue workers who were searching the lower part of the underground tunnel. Search operations resumed at 2:10 p.m. on the 13th, just one day later.