Seoul investigating sidewalk collapse

February 23, 2015

By Lee Ji-hye

Seoul city officials are investigating why a sidewalk near a construction site collapsed, with two people falling into a three-meter hole close to Yongsan Station on Friday.

Video footage shows the couple getting off a bus and falling into the hole almost immediately.

The two suffered scratches and were treated at nearby hospitals, according to the Yonhap News Agency.

City officials have asked the construction to be halted temporarily.

A metropolitan office is testing the area for possible other sinkholes.

According to the Yongsan Fire Department, the sinkhole is next to where Daewoo Engineering & Construction is building a 39-story, two building apartment block.

Daewoo could be held responsible for faulty construction management, the fire department said.

The sinkhole was five meters wide.