Sinkhole in Seoul swallows car, injures elderly couple
Sinkhole opens up on busy Seoul road
SHAH ALAM - A quiet morning in Seoul turned into a nightmare as a massive sinkhole suddenly opened up on a busy road, swallowing a car and leaving two elderly passengers with severe injuries.
The giant sinkhole, measuring 6 metres wide and 4 metres long, appeared on a four-lane road in Yonhui-dong on Thursday.
The sinkhole engulfed a passing car carrying an elderly couple in their 70s and 80s who were on their way across the city.
According to local media reports, the force of the collapse caused the vehicle to flip over sideways as it plunged into the void.
The female passenger was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest, but first responders managed to revive her with emergency Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
However, she remains unconscious and is currently battling for her life. The driver, who was conscious but severely injured, was quickly taken to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.
The incident caused significant traffic disruptions as authorities rushed to secure the area and prevent further accidents.
Access to the site has been restricted, and emergency personnel were on high alert due to concerns that the sinkhole could widen.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of Seoul's infrastructure.
While sinkholes are not uncommon in the capital of South Korea, the scale of this latest incident has sparked widespread alarm.
Local officials are now under pressure to determine the cause of the sinkhole and implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
An investigation is expected to begin once the site is deemed safe.
Last week, a similar incident was reported in Jalan Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur.
An Indian tourist, identified as Vijayalaksmi, 48, fell into the sinkhole that appeared suddenly on the pavement in Jalan Masjid India where she was walking towards a nearby temple.
The authorities believe the woman was then swept into the underground sewer tunnels as waters gushed due to recent heavy rain.
Despite seven days of search and rescue (SAR) operations, no positive results have been achieved.
However, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stated that the SAR will continue indefinitely until the victim is found.
Another sinkhole opened up in the same area on Wednesday, prompting Malaysian authorities to close off Jalan Masjid India as a precaution.
