Home / Disasters and Accidents / Seoul Overpass Collapse Kills Three During Demolition
Seoul Overpass Collapse Kills Three During Demolition
26 May
Summary
- An aging highway overpass collapsed during demolition, killing three workers.
- The incident occurred in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday, May 26.
- President Lee Jae Myung called for an investigation into the collapse.
Three people were killed and three others injured when the Seosomun Overpass in Seoul, South Korea, collapsed on Tuesday, May 26. The overpass, which opened in 1966, was undergoing demolition due to concerns about aging infrastructure.
Officials stated that demolition work was in progress on the railway section when a concrete slab began to sink, indicating a structural issue. During a subsequent safety inspection, a portion of the structure gave way, falling onto workers and equipment. A Seoul Municipal Government official suggested that a support beam snapped, causing the collapse.
In response to the tragedy, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung offered condolences to the victims' families and demanded a thorough investigation into the cause of the collapse. The incident led to traffic diversions and temporary suspension of some railway operations to Seoul Station.
