Search for missing worker at collapsed subway construction site ongoing for 4th day

GWANGMYEONG, South Korea, April 14 (Yonhap) — Rescuers continued to search for a missing worker on Monday, the fourth day since the collapse of a subway construction site in the city of Gwangmyeong.

The construction site for the Sinansan Line in Gwangmyeong, just south of Seoul, collapsed Friday, causing a section of the road above ground to cave in and damaging several buildings.

Fire authorities said they focused on clearing asphalt through the night to secure the slope to better rescue the worker in his 50s, who has been out of reach since the accident.

They halted operations at 3:37 a.m. following rainfall and resumed about three hours later as weather conditions improved.

Rescuers have yet to enter the lower section of the collapsed underground tunnel.

Officials explained there are still numerous hazards at the site and that entry will not be possible until safety is fully secured.

The authorities plan to hold a meeting with related agencies Monday morning to discuss the next steps for the search operation.

The man was one of five workers who were initially unreachable. Three of them were found safe, while another — an excavator driver in his 20s — was rescued 13 hours after the collapse some 30 meters underground.

The missing worker was presumed to be located 35 to 40 meters underground, but his exact location and condition remain unconfirmed.