ANSEONG, South Korea — At least four people have been reported dead and six others injured following a catastrophic collapse at a highway construction site in Anseong, roughly 70 kilometers south of Seoul. The incident, which occurred on February 25 at approximately 9:49 a.m. local time, involved five concrete structures, each measuring 50 meters (164 feet), which fell during the installation process after being lifted into place by a crane, according to reports from Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The victims included two Chinese nationals, as confirmed by Anseong fire officials. Ko Kyung-man, a fire department spokesperson, indicated that the workers were installing a deck on the bridge when the structure collapsed, sending the workers cascading down from both sides of the elevated area. Dramatic footage of the disaster has emerged, illustrating the severe impact of the collapse as rescue teams combed through the wreckage.

Rescue efforts have been significant, involving nearly 150 personnel and the mobilization of three helicopters by the National Fire Agency. Acting President Choi Sang-mok has urged the allocation of all necessary resources to locate and assist any individuals possibly trapped in the debris and to enhance safety protocols at construction sites across the country. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has also dispatched officials to the scene to oversee recovery operations and investigate the cause of the collapse, which remains unclear.

Hyundai Engineering, the general contractor of the highway project, expressed deep remorse for the tragedy. The company officially apologized and committed to working closely with authorities to determine the factors that led to the incident and to facilitate a thorough investigation. "We sincerely bow our heads in apology to those who lost their precious lives and were injured in the accident," the company stated.

This incident is part of a concerning trend regarding industrial accidents in South Korea, where deadly accidents have become increasingly prevalent at construction sites. Despite the introduction of new safety laws in 2022 aimed at addressing lapses and holding management accountable for worker deaths, the construction sector continues to experience significant fatalities. Just earlier this month, six individuals lost their lives due to a fire at a hotel construction site in Busan, while June last year saw 23 workers perish in a fire at a lithium battery factory linked to inadequate safety training and quality control issues. According to the labour ministry, 598 industrial worker fatalities were reported in 2023, with the construction industry accounting for nearly half of these deaths.

For ongoing updates, refer to the complete reports from Reuters, South China Morning Post, and Al Jazeera.