Seoul: The prosecution announced the formation of a dedicated team on Wednesday to investigate the collapse of an overpass in Seoul, an incident that resulted in the deaths of three individuals and left three others injured the previous day. The Seoul Western District Prosecutors Office has established an 11-member team, which includes four prosecutors and six investigators, to work in conjunction with police and labor officials. Their objective is to uncover the cause of the accident, identify those responsible, and provide prompt support to the victims.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seosomun Overpass in western Seoul collapsed partially during demolition work on Tuesday. The collapse claimed the lives of the chief supervisor of an engineering company, the site manager, and an external expert. The three individuals who sustained injuries are workers, and they suffered harm to their waist, head, and ribs, as reported by officials.
A prosecution representative stated, "We will ensure the investigation proceeds smoothly as the team works together with the police from the warrant application stage." Police conducted a forensic examination of the site from midnight until 4 a.m., in cooperation with the National Forensic Service and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. The findings from this examination will be pivotal in assessing whether the demolition work adhered to safety protocols. Should any violations be discovered, the police intend to hold accountable those responsible within the Seoul metropolitan government and the construction company involved.
In a separate development, the labor ministry has announced its collaboration with the police to investigate potential breaches of workplace safety regulations by those overseeing the demolition site.