A sudden and dramatic sinkhole appeared on a busy road in the Seodaemun district of western Seoul on Thursday, swallowing an SUV with two elderly passengers inside. The incident, which caused significant traffic disruptions, has raised concerns about the frequency of such occurrences in South Korea.
The Incident: SUV swallowed by sinkhole
At approximately 11:20 a.m. (0220 GMT), a white Tivoli SUV carrying a woman in her 70s and a man in his 80s unexpectedly rolled over and plunged into a massive sinkhole that opened up on the road. According to reports from the Korea Herald, the vehicle “rolled over sideways, crashing into the sinkhole,” leaving both passengers seriously injured. Dramatic images from the scene reveal the SUV almost entirely engulfed by the gaping hole, highlighting the severity of the incident. Emergency responders quickly arrived on the scene, and the injured couple was promptly transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Fortunately, no other individuals were harmed in the accident.
Traffic disruption and emergency response
The sudden appearance of the sinkhole led to chaos on the surrounding roads, with severe traffic congestion reported in the area. Authorities from Seoul’s Seodaemun district fire station swiftly cordoned off the site, restricting access as an investigation into the cause of the sinkhole was launched.
Sinkholes have become a recurring issue in South Korea, with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport reporting at least 879 cases between 2019 and June 2023. Nearly half of these incidents have been attributed to damaged sewer pipes, underscoring the infrastructural challenges facing the country.
Similar incident: Indian tourist falls into sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur
In a related incident, a 48-year-old Indian tourist, Vijayalakshmi, from the village of Animiganipalle in Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, fell into a sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur. The woman was walking along a footpath when the ground beneath her suddenly collapsed. While her husband and son managed to escape, Vijayalakshmi was swept into an underground sewer.
Local authorities in Kuala Lumpur immediately launched rescue operations, which are still ongoing. Vijayalakshmi was known for her frequent travels to Malaysia and Singapore as part of her business.
In response to the incident, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed officials from the Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu (APNRT) Society to ensure that the search operations are conducted effectively.
The incidents in Seoul and Kuala Lumpur underscore the unpredictable and dangerous nature of sinkholes, which can appear without warning and cause significant harm. As authorities continue to investigate and address the underlying causes of these sinkholes, the public remains on alert for future occurrences.