Seoul Overpass Collapse Kills 3, Injures 3; Rail Services Disrupted

SEOUL, May 26 (Yonhap) -- An aging overpass in Seoul undergoing removal partially collapsed Tuesday, leaving three people dead and three others injured, officials said. Parts of the Seosomun Overpass, located in western Seoul, and other construction debris fell to the ground at 2:32 p.m., killing two men in their 50s and 60s. One of the injured victims was later pronounced dead, raising the death toll to three. The three surviving injured workers -- men in their 30s, 40s and 50s -- suffered injuries to the waist, head and ribs, officials said. The debris also fell onto a nearby railway, prompting state-run operator Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL) to suspend or adjust some rail services. KORAIL said the collapse and subsequent recovery work by the Seoul city government were expected to take time, making service adjustments unavoidable. All train service between Seoul and Haengshin Station in Goyang, some 20 kilometers northwest of the capital, will be suspended starting Wednesday. KTX high-speed trains will also add temporary stops at additional stations, and some delays are expected. A total of 13 people were near the site at the time of the collapse, but seven evacuated safely, according to officials. "Workers had stopped overnight demolition work and entered between the girders for a safety inspection at around 2 p.m. when the girders appear to have collapsed," Lee Jong-woon, an official at the Seodaemun Fire Station, said. Girders are a type of support beam used to help support the structure. Built in 1966, the overpass had been undergoing demolition since August last year over safety concerns and was scheduled to be torn down by early next month. President Lee Jae Myung ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident and instructed officials to devise measures to prevent a recurrence, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a release. Lee also ordered utmost efforts to deal with the aftermath of the accident and treat those injured, she said. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok earlier ordered the full mobilization of equipment and personnel to rescue victims. Kim said that the Seoul city government, the land ministry and other related agencies should extend full cooperation for rescue efforts while identifying medical facilities capable of accepting victims and swiftly transporting the injured to minimize casualties. Kim also asked officials to ensure the safety of rescue workers and restrict access to the scene to prevent further casualties.