Kim Dong-yeon Returns from Emergency U.S. Trip and Immediately Visits Gwangmyeong Sinkhole Collapse Site to Assess Situation

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gap-dong] Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon completed a 2-night, 4-day emergency trip to the United States for tariff issue negotiations on the 12th and immediately visited the Gwangmyeong Shin-Ansan Line collapse accident site upon returning home to check on rescue operations and urged all-out efforts to rescue the last missing person.

Governor Kim also expressed his intention to conduct precision diagnoses of nearby elementary schools over the weekend to prevent additional accidents.

Arriving at the collapse site at approximately 5:15 p.m. that day, Governor Kim received a briefing on rescue operations from officials of the Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Management Headquarters and said, "It is fortunate that one of the two buried persons has been rescued, and it is regrettable that one person has not yet been rescued," and "Though rescue operations are temporarily suspended due to risks of additional collapse from rain and various situation checks, I urge you to do your best to carry out rescue operations as quickly as possible once conditions are met."

He added, "We must also take full precautions to ensure the safety of firefighters and rescue workers."

Governor Kim also stated, "There are nearby apartments, an elementary school, and residences in the area. Preliminary diagnostic results showed no issues, so everyone has returned home," and emphasized, "Since the nearby elementary school's athletic field is covered with masonry sand, I have ordered precision inspections to be conducted over the weekend to ensure there are no potential risks. Please prepare to ensure there are no issues before students return to school."

Since the collapse accident occurred on the afternoon of the 11th, Gyeonggi Province issued evacuation orders for 675 households and 2,300 residents around the accident site. Of these, a total of 88 households and 221 people evacuated. The province provided emergency relief kits, tents, bottled water, and daily necessities sets to these evacuees.

Subsequently, to prevent additional accidents, 10 employees from the Gyeonggi Province Special Safety Inspection Team and private companies conducted emergency safety inspections of nearby apartments and churches on the night of the 11th. As no significant issues such as building tilts were found, the province completed the return of all disaster-displaced residents by 8 a.m. on the 12th.