A tragic incident unfolded in Seoul as a motorcyclist met his untimely death after a massive sinkhole, measuring 65.62 feet deep, opened up during rush hour. The man, believed to be in his 30s, was riding his motorcycle in the Gangdong district when the road suddenly collapsed above a subway tunnel undergoing construction.
Despite an 18-hour rescue operation, the man was discovered buried beneath debris and construction materials inside the sinkhole. His identity has not yet been disclosed by authorities. Fortunately, a second individual driving a car on the same road narrowly avoided the disaster, sustaining only minor injuries.
Dash cam footage captured the terrifying moment when the car nearly plummeted into the sinkhole but managed to rebound against the pavement, avoiding a catastrophic fate. The motorcyclist, following closely behind, attempted to halt his progress by pressing his foot against the road.
Describing the harrowing experience, car driver Heo Mo recounted hearing a loud noise before losing consciousness briefly. Upon regaining awareness, he found himself facing a massive cavity on the road. Despite his efforts to move the car away from the danger, he narrowly escaped through the window as the vehicle refused to budge.
The cause of the sinkhole remains unclear, prompting an ongoing investigation. Recent data submitted to the Seoul city government revealed a concerning trend of 223 sinkholes appearing in the city over the past decade, attributed to issues like poor infrastructure management, deteriorating pipes, and excavation-related incidents leading to ground subsidence.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by sinkholes and highlights the critical need for robust infrastructure maintenance and safety measures.