Announcement Originally Scheduled for May Expected to Be Delayed by a Month
"Residents' Anxiety and Economic Losses for Merchants Are Growing"
On May 27, Gangdong District in Seoul announced that it is urging the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to make a prompt announcement in order to minimize residents' anxiety and economic damage, and to ensure compensation for damages, in relation to the sinkhole incident in Myeongil-dong.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport had originally stated that it would announce the results of its investigation by May 30. However, the ministry recently announced an extension of the investigation period, which has led to continued anxiety among residents and ongoing losses for nearby merchants.
Gangdong District is collaborating with Seoul City to conduct an emergency detailed inspection of underground voids (empty spaces) along road sections within the district, covering both city and district roads. Provided by Gangdong District.
The district plans to soon submit an official letter to the ministry, urging at least the announcement of the investigation results regarding the Myeongil-dong sinkhole section. Compensation for affected residents and related follow-up measures can only proceed once the cause of the accident is identified.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that it had formed the Central Underground Accident Investigation Committee to investigate the Myeongil-dong sinkhole, which occurred on March 24, and that the committee would operate for two months until May 30. However, after a ground subsidence accident occurred in Iljik-dong, Gwangmyeong City, the ministry recently indicated its intention to extend the investigation, stating that it would be completed by June.
According to the district, merchants near the accident site are suffering from trauma-induced anxiety and have reported significant losses in sales due to a decline in customer visits. There has also been a surge in business owners suspending operations after the accident.
Meanwhile, the district has been listening to the opinions of residents and merchants around the accident site and checking the extent of the damage since the incident. Since May 2, it has been conducting an emergency detailed inspection of underground voids (empty spaces) along road sections within the district, covering both city and district roads.
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