Gwangmyeong: The search for a worker missing from a collapsed subway construction site in Gwangmyeong, just south of Seoul, has entered its second day. The accident occurred on Friday at 3:13 p.m. during construction of the Sinansan Line, leading to a portion of the surface road caving in and damaging several surrounding buildings, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Initially, five workers were unaccounted for; however, three were found safe, and one excavator driver in his 20s was rescued approximately 13 hours after the incident from 30 meters underground.
Authorities are now urgently trying to locate the fifth worker, who is in his 50s. The operation has deployed seven search-and-rescue dogs and plans to use heavy machinery to assist in the recovery efforts.
Despite attempts to locate the missing worker via his mobile phone, police and firefighters are experiencing challenges in pinpointing his exact location.
The weather forecast predicts rain with possible thunder and lightning, amounting to up to 40 mm, in the larger capital area through early Sunday morning, which is expected to hinder search operations.
“As there is still someone missing, we will concentrate our efforts on rescue operations,” a police official stated. “Rain is expected later today, so we aim to conclude our operation before noon.”
In addition to the search efforts, police are conducting a preliminary investigation to establish the cause of the collapse.
Prior to the incident, authorities had evacuated the site after discovering cracks in multiple pillars, assessing the risk of a collapse. The incident led to an evacuation order for approximately 2,400 nearby residents, which was lifted just after midnight following safety inspections. All 220 individuals who spent the night in shelters have since returned home.
