Worker in His 50s in Critical Condition After Being Buried Under Soil at Gwangyang Sewage Treatment Plant

Police Investigate Compliance with Safety Protocols and On-Site Management

A worker in his 50s was buried under a pile of soil while working at a sewage treatment plant in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, and is now in critical condition.

According to Gwangyang City on September 24, at around 2:46 p.m. the previous day, a man in his 50s, identified as A, was installing a filter at the Jungdong Central Sewage Treatment Plant in Gwangyang when he was suddenly buried by a collapsed mound of soil. It is presumed that a water leak occurred near the excavated soil for the installation work, which weakened the ground and caused it to collapse instantly.

Exterior view of Gwangyang City Hall.

Following the accident, A was rescued by the 119 emergency rescue team about 20 minutes after the incident, after his coworkers at the scene reported the situation. However, he had already been buried under the soil for a long time and was found unconscious. He was immediately transferred to a nearby hospital and then to a major hospital in Gwangju, but as of now, he remains in critical condition and has not regained consciousness.

The police are focusing their investigation on whether safety protocols were properly followed during the work process and whether there were any shortcomings in the on-site management and supervision system. They are also looking into whether a safety inspection was conducted before the work began, whether there were measures in place to prevent soil collapse, and whether on-site personnel fulfilled their safety management responsibilities.

A city official stated, "Currently, A is able to breathe on his own and detailed examinations are underway," adding, "We will strengthen our safety management measures to prevent similar accidents from recurring."