A massive sinkhole swallowed four lanes of traffic in Seoul’s Gangdong District, killing a motorcyclist and prompting widespread disruption across the neighborhood.
The sinkhole, which formed near the intersection by Seoul Daemyeong Elementary School around 6:29 p.m., measures approximately 18 meters wide, 20 meters long, and is estimated to be over 20 meters deep — with authorities warning that it continues to expand.
Emergency response teams were dispatched immediately, but rescue efforts were hampered by the unstable terrain and sheer depth of the collapse. “Inside the sinkhole is around 2,000 metric tons of earth and water,” said Kim Chang-seob, chief of the Gangdong Fire Station, during a late-night press briefing. “There is another hole within the sinkhole, about 5 meters deep. Rescue workers in full protective gear are using ropes to descend and manually search the debris.”
A minivan driver narrowly escaped tragedy when the vehicle’s rear wheels slipped into the hole just as the road gave way. The driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Earlier that morning, several smaller holes had been reported in nearby sewer drainage systems. Repairs were completed around 5:30 p.m. — just an hour before the catastrophic collapse occurred — raising questions about whether the damage may be connected to underlying infrastructure issues.
The site remained chaotic into the night, with ruptured water pipes gushing steadily and large trees torn from their roots littering the area. Around 50 concerned residents gathered near the perimeter, many expressing fear about the growing size of the chasm.
“It looks like the sinkhole is progressively getting deeper,” said Kim, a local resident. “All the nearby apartment complexes are in a blackout, and local schools and academies have canceled classes.”
Authorities are continuing rescue and investigation efforts and have cordoned off the area to prevent further accidents. City officials say they will conduct a thorough review of the sewer and drainage systems in the district.
