Kim Minjae, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and acting Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, ordered on the 16th that a situation manager be urgently dispatched to ensure thorough handling of the scene following the collapse of a retaining wall on an overpass in Osan, Gyeonggi Province.
An excavator is digging out a pile of soil at the site of a retaining wall collapse accident on the overpass at Gajang Intersection in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, on the 16th. Photo by Yonhap News
At around 7:04 p.m. on the same day, a retaining wall collapsed near Gajang Intersection in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, burying a vehicle and prompting ongoing rescue operations. Fire authorities issued Level 1 response, believing there may be occupants inside the vehicle trapped under the debris. A total of 26 pieces of equipment and 78 personnel were deployed, including two excavators.
Kim stated, "Very heavy and intense rainfall is forecast from tonight into the early morning," and instructed, "If any signs of risk or changes are detected in roads, embankments, retaining walls, or landslide-prone areas, immediately restrict access." He added, "If there is a risk of flooding, promptly restrict access to underpasses, riversides, and other hazardous areas, and evacuate residents."
As of now, the exact number of casualties has not been confirmed, but police estimate that one person has died.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
