Bridge collapses, 1 person dead, as rain falls nationwide

Officials comb the area of Jeongja Bridge in the Bundang District of Seongnam, Gyeonggi on Wednesday after the structure collapsed that morning, killing one and seriously injuring another. [YONHAP]

One woman died, and a man was seriously injured in the Bundang District of Seongnam, Gyeonggi, on Wednesday when a 30-year-old bridge stretching over a stream collapsed.

The 40-year-old woman and the 27-year-old man, both of whom were walking on the pedestrian walkway of the Jeongja Bridge, fell 5 meters (16.4 feet) and hit another pedestrian walkway that ran under the bridge at around 9:45 a.m.

They were taken to a hospital, but the woman was pronounced dead. Authorities said the man sustained back injuries.

Exactly what caused nearly half the 108-meter-long bridge to break is unknown.

Police said it appeared that the heavy rain and a rupture in a 20-centimeter-diameter water pipe passing through the lower part of the bridge led the structure to weaken and eventually collapse.

Whether the water pipe ruptured before or after the bridge fell apart is unclear at this point, police said.

Opened on June 20, 1993, Jeongja Bridge was frequently used by Bundang residents trying to get to Jeongja Station on the Sinbundang and Suin-Bundang subway lines or take express buses to nearby cities. The walking trail running below the bridge along the Tancheon Stream is a popular spot for walks.

In last year's safety inspection by the Seongnam city government, the bridge received a "good" rating with "no major defects," though summary notes pointed out that repair measures were necessary for cracks in the pavement, damaged bridge joints, clogged drains and missing drainage pipes, and cracks in the handrails and stepping stones.

The nearby Buljeong Bridge was also closed later the same day after it showed signs of “unstableness,” authorities said.

The collapse occurred as rain showered the entire country Wednesday, causing flights to be canceled on Jeju Island.

Wildfires that had been spreading for days in several parts of the country were completely extinguished by the rainfall.

According to Korea Airports Corporation, at least 167 flights were canceled at Jeju International Airport as of Wednesday at 9 a.m., with many more expected to be scrubbed in the ensuing hours.

Strong winds were detected near the airport, with 11.8-meter-per-second (26.4-mile-per-hour) gusts recorded.

An airport official said 25.7-meter-per-second winds blew at higher altitudes near the airport, causing disruptions in operations.

Heavy rain and strong wind advisories were issued for the country's southern regions Wednesday. Seoul received about 46 millimeters (1.8 inches) of rain as of Wednesday at 9 a.m.

The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast the rain to last until Thursday.

All major wildfires this week were doused by the rain, particularly the fires in Hongseong County, South Chungcheong; Hampyeong County and Suncheon in South Jeolla; and Yeongju in North Gyeongsang.

President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered Wednesday his aides to take measures to designate 10 areas recently hit by wildfires as special disaster zones, making them eligible for government financial support and relief funds.

Yoon's office specified the 10 areas as Hongseong County; Hampyeong County and Suncheon; Yeongju; Geumsan County, Dangjin, Boryeong and Buyeo County in South Chungcheong; Seo District in Daejeon; and Okcheon in North Chungcheong.

With Wednesday marking Arbor Day, weather officials pointed out that the rain prevented additional wildfires, as previous data show that Arbor Day is usually the time of year with the highest risk of forest fires.

The most wildfires in Korea in a day was 63 in 2002 and 50 in 2000, and both were on Arbor Day, data from the Korea Forest Service showed.

Jeong Cheol-ho, spokesperson for the Korea Forest Service, said more people visit mountains on Arbor Day to hike or visit ancestral graves, heightening the possibility of them causing a fire.

The frequency of Arbor Day forest fires has decreased since Arbor Day was excluded from Korea's list of holidays in 2006.

BY LEE SUNG-EUN [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]