Seoul elevated road collapses during demolition, killing 3 workers

A demolition site on Seoul's Seosomun elevated road became a scene of tragedy on May 26 when a section of the structure collapsed, killing at least three construction workers. The incident occurred around 2:33 p.m. as demolition work was underway.

Initial reports indicate the deceased are three men in their 50s and 60s, presumed to be construction personnel. Three others sustained injuries, with one in serious condition. Emergency services have launched a full-scale rescue operation, with firefighters responding at the highest alert level to search for potential additional victims.

The collapse is believed to have happened during a safety inspection. Earlier in the day, a concrete slab at the site had sunk approximately 2.9 centimeters between 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m., leading to a temporary halt in construction. The subsequent safety assessment was in progress when the catastrophic failure occurred.