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Sinkhole in Seoul's Gangdong District traps SUV and motorcycle, injures one

Published: 24 Mar. 2025, 21:25 Updated: 25 Mar. 2025, 00:16

Emergency responders conduct a rescue operation at an intersection near Daemyung Elementary School in Gangdong District, eastern Seoul, after a sinkhole appears on March 24. [YONHAP]

One person was injured in a large sinkhole that formed at an intersection in Gangdong District, eastern Seoul, on Monday.

A Kia Carnival SUV was caught in the sinkhole, which was 20 meters (66 feet) in diameter and 30 meters deep. A motorcycle also fell in.

According to the Gangdong Fire Department, the sinkhole appeared around 6:29 p.m. near at an elementary school in Myeongil-dong. The hole, spanning 4.5 lanes, trapped the SUV.

The SUV driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital.

Witnesses reported that a motorcycle also fell into the sinkhole, emergency workers said.

Authorities are determining the full extent of the damage.

A large sinkhole is spotted on a road in Gangdong District, eastern Seoul, on March 24. [NEWS1]

Firefighters responded to a passerby's report around 6:43 p.m. that both a car and a motorcycle had fallen into the hole. Fire authorities issued a warning after noting that the sinkhole's size was expanding.

Police and fire officials are investigating the cause, suspecting that a ruptured water main may have contributed to the collapse.

Lee Cheong-hee, 65, who operates a nearby gas station, said that a small manhole next to the road had collapsed earlier in the morning.

He reported the incident at around 11 a.m., and the district office conducted emergency repairs. Lee mentioned that cracks had been appearing on the floor of his gas station since the end of February, prompting him to file a complaint. The gas station was closed immediately after the sinkhole appeared.

Since the incident, the district closed lanes in both directions of the affected road. The district office sent out safety notices urging drivers to check traffic information and use alternative routes.

Translated using generative AI and edited by Korea JoongAng Daily staff.

BY LEE AH-MI [[email protected]]