A crane collapse paralyzes north Seoul train lines

Social Affairs

Published: 06 Jul. 2009, 22:29

A crane collapse paralyzes north Seoul train lines

Korail workers remove a fallen crane from rail lines located near the Ahyeon Tunnel in northwestern Seoul, yesterday. The collapse paralyzed railway operations, causing a commuting nightmare for passengers. [YONHAP]

A crane at a construction site collapsed yesterday, crushing railways in northwestern Seoul, completely paralyzing the operations of the Gyeongbu and Gyeongui lines for over two hours and causing commuting nightmares for people who had booked tickets for trains passing through Seoul Station.

The crane operator died after being transported to a nearby hospital. No other casualties were reported.

Police questioned the construction site chief, crane manufacturer officials and witnesses who were on the scene to determine the exact cause of the incident. Korail workers and firefighters were dispatched to remove debris.

Police believe they will finish removing the fallen crane by this morning. The crane will be examined by the National Institute of Scientific Investigation.

The 50-meter (164-foot) crane at an apartment reconstruction site near Ahyeon Tunnel in Chunghyeon-dong fell at 8:15 a.m. According to police, the accident took place while the crane operator, identified by his family name Shin, had been moving several pieces of construction equipment that weighed 300 kilograms each. Police said that for some reason the lower part of the crane - located between a five-story apartment building under construction and the railway - bent and collapsed.

The crane destroyed part of the apartment and fell to the railway, an investigator said. “We are focused on determining the cause of the collapse and if the crane failed to handle the heavy weight of the construction materials, or if it had mechanical defects caused by poor maintenance.”

All trains passing through Seoul Station were stopped for 2 hours. The railway is located in the train hub and connects the Gyeongui, Gyeongbu and Honam lines. The collapse completely halted train operations on the Gyeongui Line from Seoul Station to the Sinchon railway station.

Because the collapse also disrupted the railway’s electric power grid, 44 trains that use the Gyeongbu Line - 16 KTX trains, nine Saemaul trains and 19 Mugunghwa trains - were also halted. Trains that were supposed to arrive at Seoul Station had to make a stop at Gwangmyeong Station instead to drop off passengers.

Korail eventually managed to restore power and train service on the Gyeongbu and Honam lines at 11:40 a.m. Korail officials said the Gyeongui Line will resume operations this morning.

Passengers flocked to Seoul Station, forming long lines to get refunds for their tickets. Some complained to Korail officials. “I had a meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. with the Fair Trade Commission, but I’m worried because my train has been delayed,” said Han Chang-hui, a 55-year-old businessman based in Daejeon. “I rescheduled the meeting, but I’m not sure whether I will make it on time.”

Another passenger, who wanted to be identified by his family name Seol, left for Seoul Station from Busan on the KTX yesterday morning. He said he got off at Gwangmyeong Station following the crane collapse. “I couldn’t go to work on time,” Seol said. “This accident showed that even a tiny accident can cause fatal damage to a society which has an advanced network,” said Jeong Jae-seung, a professor at Kaist.

By Chang Chung-hoon, Kim Mi-ju [mijukim@joongang.co.kr]