Governor Kim Dong-yeon Visits Indeokwon-Dongtan Double-Track Railway Construction Site to Inspect Accident Response Following Pile Driver Tipover

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gap-dong] Following a pile driver (construction machinery used to bore through ground) tipover accident that occurred on the night of the 5th at the Indeokwon-Dongtan double-track railway construction site in Seo-cheon-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin City, Governor Kim Dong-yeon of Gyeonggi Province visited the site on the 6th to inspect the accident response situation.

Upon arriving at the site around 11:30 a.m. that day, Governor Kim said, "Fortunately, there have been no casualties. I express my gratitude to the management office staff, Yongin City, firefighters, and residents who cooperated with evacuation for their efforts in handling the accident response," and added, "We will do our utmost to conduct the most rapid precision safety inspections so that residents can safely return to their daily lives."

Governor Kim continued, "The most important thing at this stage is to rapidly complete the dismantling work of the overturned pile driver. It is expected to take approximately 8-9 hours, and I have requested that firefighters and relevant agencies ensure the dismantling process is completed safely and promptly," he explained.

Governor Kim also stated, "I have instructed the construction company responsible for the accident to develop response measures to address residents' concerns and difficulties, keeping in mind the sentiments of the evacuated residents. Officials from Gyeonggi Province and Yongin City, including the mayor of Yongin, will remain on-site to complete the accident response."

Governor Kim conveyed news of the nationwide safety inspection conference presided over by the President held the previous day (5th), saying, "The new administration demonstrated the right direction by conducting safety inspections immediately after taking office, showing that it places the utmost priority on securing the safety of the people's lives and property. Gyeonggi Province will also align with that direction and place the highest priority on protecting residents' lives and safety."

After reviewing the site and receiving reports on the response situation, Governor Kim instructed related officials, including the province's Safety Management Director, to inspect regulations on safety management of construction machinery during non-operational situations similar to this accident and to establish and supplement necessary guidelines.

The accident occurred around 10:13 p.m. on the 5th when a 70-ton, 44-meter-long pile driver at the construction site tipped over toward a nearby apartment building. The overturned pile driver currently remains in a state of collapse, leaning against the apartment building's exterior wall from around the 8th floor to the 15th floor.

There were no casualties from the accident, and all 156 residents from 60 households in the apartment building were evacuated to temporary accommodations including relatives' homes and temporary shelters prepared by Yongin City.

Immediately after receiving the accident report, the Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Management Headquarters and Gyeonggi Province's Social Disaster and Safety Special Inspection Team visited the site to conduct safety inspections. The province plans to first proceed with dismantling the pile driver, conduct a precision diagnosis of the apartment building, and then determine whether residents can return to their homes.