Motorcyclist Dies After Falling Into Massive 20-Meter Sinkhole in South Korea, Van Driver Escapes

Seoul: A motorcyclist tragically died after plunging into a massive sinkhole that suddenly appeared on a street in Seoul, South Korea. The woman driving a van over the same site survived, but the man on the motorcycle was not as lucky.

The incident occurred on Monday evening, and after an overnight search, officials confirmed the discovery of the victim on Tuesday.

20-Meter-Wide Sinkhole Swallowed Motorcyclist

The sinkhole, which measured approximately 20 meters in width and depth, suddenly opened at an intersection in the Myeongil-dong district in eastern Seoul. 

The motorcyclist, a man in his 30s, was swallowed by the gaping hole, while a woman driving a van sustained injuries, according to reports from safety and emergency offices.

Body Discovered After Overnight Search

Emergency officer Kim Chang Seob, during a televised briefing, stated that the deceased motorcyclist was found before noon on Tuesday. 

He was still wearing his helmet and motorcycle boots when rescue workers discovered him.

Before locating the body, the search team found his Japanese-made motorcycle and mobile phone deep inside the hole. 

Excavators, shovels, and other equipment were used throughout the operation.

Kim also confirmed that the injured woman did not fall into the sinkhole and suffered only minor injuries.

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Probe On to Determine Cause

Authorities launched an investigation to determine what caused the massive sinkhole to open in the middle of the street. 

Officials are examining the site for any underground infrastructure issues, construction faults, or natural causes.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the site on Monday night, urging officials to identify the cause and implement measures to prevent future incidents.

Sinkhole in New Jersey Last Month

In a similar incident in February, a massive sinkhole appeared in New Jersey, USA. While no casualties were reported, the event caused major travel disruptions for thousands of commuters.

As investigations continue in Seoul, officials remain on high alert to prevent another disaster from occurring.