Rescue efforts continue for motorcyclist trapped in 20-meter-wide sinkhole in Seoul

A massive sinkhole, 20 meters wide and deep, opened in a road in Seoul on Monday evening, trapping a motorcyclist and injuring a car driver.

Rescue efforts have been ongoing for over 14 hours, in an effort to find the missing motorcyclist.

Choi Min-jung reports.

Rescue operations are continuing in Seoul after a motorcyclist fell into a massive sinkhole on a public road.

According to authorities a sinkhole opened in the middle of a road in Myeongil-dong, Seoul at around 6:30 PM on Monday.

The sinkhole is approximately 20 meters wide and 20 meters deep, affecting four lanes of a six-lane road.

"We have been manually removing soil to search for the missing person underground. However, due to cracks forming on the upper part of the sinkhole, further entry was deemed too dangerous."

The fire department said Tuesday morning, rescuers found the victim's mobile phone at 1:37 AM.

The motorcycle was found at 3:30 AM.

With tons of water and soil accumulated at the sinkhole, rescue workers in diving suits as well as a search-and-rescue dog continue their efforts to find the victim.

Additionally, a car driver who passed through the area just before the collapse was injured and transported to the hospital.

Schools in the area decided to close on Tuesday, as a precaution for student safety.

As for the cause of the sinkhole, authorities have not ruled out a possible connection to the ongoing subway Line 9 extension project near the collapse site.

Construction has been temporarily suspended after the incident.

On Monday night, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon urged enhanced safety measures to avoid additional casualties.

Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.