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| Collapse tunnel in Gwangmyeong |
On the afternoon of April 11, 2025, a major tunnel collapse occurred at the construction site of the Shinansan subway line in Gwangmyeong, South Korea. The incident, part of a Posco E&C urban railway project, caused the ground above to cave in by around 50 meters, trapping two workers underground and triggering an emergency evacuation of more than 2,300 residents.
📰 Summary of Key Facts:
- 📅 Date of Incident: April 11, 2025
- 📍 Location: Gwangmyeong, South Korea (Shinansan Subway Line)
- 📉 Cause: Structural pillar collapse during tunnel construction
- 👷 Casualties: 2 workers trapped underground
- 🏘️ Evacuated: 2,300+ residents from nearby apartments and schools
- ⚠️ Warnings Ignored: Safety signs reported 15 hours prior to collapse
- 🧱 Audit Concerns: Tunnel built on weak soil without key safety reinforcement
- 🚧 Construction Firm: Posco E&C
- 🏛️ Government Response: Emergency task force, full investigation launched
⛏️ What Happened: Tunnel Collapse at Shinansan Line Construction Site
At approximately 3:13 PM, one of the main support pillars inside the tunnel suddenly cracked and failed, leading to a catastrophic sinkhole at the surface. At the time, 18 workers were on-site, with 12 working about 30 meters underground. Most managed to evacuate in time, but an excavator operator became trapped and another worker lost contact entirely.
⚠️ Warning Signs Ignored: Prior Alerts Went Unheeded
- On April 10, the night before the collapse, workers reported strange noises and visible cracks in the support structures.
- At 12:30 AM on April 11, Posco E&C alerted the Gwangmyeong city government, halted work, and conducted emergency safety checks on the 24-meter-deep section of the tunnel.
- Despite identifying signs of potential collapse over 15 hours earlier, construction resumed on the morning of April 11, leading directly to the disaster.
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| A wider view of the collapsed site |
👷 Rescue Operations Underway Amid Complex Conditions
A rescue team of 60 personnel and 21 vehicles was deployed, using cranes, drones, sensors, and search dogs. As of late April 11, heavy machinery began dismantling steel structures to reach the trapped workers, believed to be at a depth of 30 meters.
Rescue efforts remain slow due to unstable conditions, the presence of gas and live electrical cables, and ongoing risk of further collapse.
🏘️ Over 2,300 Residents Evacuated Near Collapse Zone
Authorities quickly evacuated 2,300 residents from nearby apartment complexes, including 642 households at the Prugio complex and several schools and kindergartens. Evacuees were relocated to eight designated shelters, including local gyms and schools.
The site is just 600 meters away from Gwangmyeong KTX Station, increasing concerns over potential broader infrastructure impact.
🔌 Emergency Measures and Government Response
- Power and gas supplies to the affected area were shut off immediately to prevent secondary incidents.
- The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) formed an emergency task force led by Minister Park Sang-woo, coordinating with fire, police, the National Railway Corporation, and local authorities.
- Minister Park emphasized the government’s top priority is saving lives and has ordered a thorough safety inspection across all related subway construction projects.
🧱 Audit Warnings Ignored: Design Flaws Under Scrutiny
In 2023, the Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea warned that the tunnel segment #5 (from Siheung to Gwangmyeong) was built on level-5 grade geology—the weakest soil classification, prone to landslides and collapses.
Despite the known risk, the tunnel design did not include an “invert” concrete base, a crucial reinforcement for weak-ground tunneling. This raises serious concerns about negligence and failure to implement safety recommendations.
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| Location of the collapsed site on map |
📚 Learn Korean Through This News
Korean Text:
"경기 광명시 지하철 신안산선 지하터널 공사 현장이 무너지면서 작업자 1명이 지하에 고립되고 1명이 실종됐다. 또 추가 붕괴 가능성에 대비해 인근 주민 약 2300여 명이 주변 체육관과 학교 등으로 대피했다."
Key Vocabulary:
- 경기 광명시 (Gyeonggi Gwangmyeong-si) – Gwangmyeong City, Gyeonggi Province
- 신안산선 (Sin-an-san-seon) – Shin Ansan Line (a subway line under construction)
- 지하터널 (ji-ha-teo-neol) – underground tunnel
- 공사 현장 (gong-sa hyeon-jang) – construction site
- 무너지다 (mu-neu-ji-da) – to collapse
- 작업자 (jak-eop-ja) – worker
- 고립되다 (go-rip-dwe-da) – to be isolated / trapped
- 실종되다 (sil-jong-dwe-da) – to go missing / be unaccounted for
- 붕괴 가능성 (bung-goe ga-neung-seong) – risk of collapse
- 대피하다 (dae-pi-ha-da) – to evacuate
- 인근 주민 (in-geun ju-min) – nearby residents
- 체육관 (che-yuk-gwan) – gymnasium
- ~여 명 (~yeo myeong) – about ~ people
Grammar Notes:
- ~면서: Indicates two simultaneous actions
- ~에 고립되다: Means “to be trapped in (a place)”
- ~에 대비해: Means “in preparation for / in case of” something happening
- ~으로 대피했다: Shows destination or direction of evacuation
Language Insight:
- 고립되다 is often used in emergency or disaster contexts in Korean. It has a serious tone and implies physical entrapment and helplessness.
- 실종되다 (to go missing) is commonly used in news reports when someone’s whereabouts are unknown due to accidents, disasters, or crimes.
- 체육관과 학교 등으로 대피했다 – During emergencies in Korea, public facilities like schools and gyms often serve as evacuation shelters. This reflects how local infrastructure is prepared for such incidents.
Translation:
"A collapse at the underground tunnel construction site of the Shin Ansan Line in Gwangmyeong City, Gyeonggi Province, has left one worker trapped underground and another missing. In response to the potential risk of further collapse, around 2,300 nearby residents evacuated to local gyms and schools."
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