Search for Missing Worker in Gwangmyeong Tunnel Collapse Extends to Fifth Day

Rescue efforts continue under hazardous conditions at a subway construction site flagged in 2023 for poor structural integrity.

The Sinansan Line subway construction site in Gwangmyeong, South Korea, collapsed on April 11, causing a road cave-in and damaging nearby buildings.
Rescuers have yet to locate a missing worker in his 50s, presumed to be 35-40 meters underground, as search efforts stretch into a fifth day.
Hazardous conditions, including unstable debris and recent rainfall, have slowed progress and complicated access to deeper sections of the tunnel.
A 2023 audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection flagged the tunnel's poor condition, citing fragmented bedrock and inadequate reinforcements.
An excavator driver in his 20s was rescued 13 hours after the collapse and is recovering from non-life-threatening injuries.