Building life rescuers in action: Missed worker wanted for tunneling!

Building life rescuers in action: Missed worker wanted for tunneling!

Seoul, Südkorea - in South Korea there was a devastating collapse of a subway tunnel on April 12, 2025. Shortly after the incident, five construction workers no longer reported, which initiated immediate rescue measures. While three of them could be brought to safety later, a worker over 50 remains missing. The search is difficult and is also difficult by the upcoming weather conditions, especially rain and thunderstorms. Meteorologists have predicted storms for the Seoul region until Sunday morning, which could affect the rescue activities, such as Kleine Zeitung reported.

The rescue workers are still active and use seven search dogs to track down the missing worker. The police have initiated investigations into the exact cause of the accident. It is also worrying that cracks on several pillars were found before the collapse, which led to the evacuation of the area around the construction site. A total of around 2,400 people were affected by the evacuation, with most of them being able to return to their apartments on the same evening. However, 220 people spent the night in emergency accommodation.

serious construction site accidents and occupational safety

construction activities are characterized by the high risk of accident events that are about twice as high as in other industries. As the Deutsche Handwerkszeitung , accidents on construction sites often have more serious consequences. The most common dangers include constantly changing working conditions, high physical stress and unpredictable weather. The construction site regulation is an important part of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and is intended to promote the safety of workers.

statistics show that the most dangerous activities in the construction system include the following: 33.2% of accidents occur during transport and traffic, followed by 24.1% in extraction and manufacture, as well as 14.8% during maintenance work. Risk management on construction sites is regulated by numerous regulations and laws, including the Workplace Ordinance and the Operational Safety Ordinance.

responsibility and security measures

Various actors are responsible for occupational safety on construction sites, including the occupational safety authorities, architects and clients. These help to coordinate and monitor security and health protection measures. In order to minimize the risk of accidents, thorough instruction on danger spots as well as first aid measures and escape routes are essential. In addition, risk assessments should be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The tragic events around the tunnel collapse illustrate the urgency of extensive security measures on construction sites. The forecast weather conditions and the ongoing search measures show how critical the situation is still.

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OrtSeoul, Südkorea
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