Incheon City Center Manhole Incident presumed to be caused by suffocation from toxic gas
Two workers lost consciousness and collapsed inside a manhole while conducting an investigation on a wastewater pipeline in the middle of Incheon.
According to the police and fire authorities in Incheon, a 119 emergency report was received at around 9:22 AM on the 6th, stating that "two people have collapsed" in a manhole on a road in Byeongbang-dong, Gyeyang-gu.
Rescue teams that responded to the scene found A (48), the representative of a wastewater pipeline investigation company, in a state of cardiac arrest about 20 minutes after the report was made. The rescue team immediately performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and transported A to the hospital.
However, B (52), the worker who was working alongside A, is still missing. Fire authorities are deploying special rescue teams and underwater drones to search for B around the pipeline and sewage treatment plant area.
B, who was working alongside A, is still missing.
Difficulties in Search Due to Narrow Manhole Structure and Potential for Suffocation from Toxic Gas
The two workers belonged to a subcontracting company that was performing a project for the Incheon Environmental Corporation to establish a Geographic Information System (GIS) database for the wastewater collection pipeline, and they were reportedly investigating the status of the underground pipeline at the time of the incident.
Fire authorities are focusing on the possibility that they inhaled toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide or carbon monoxide and lost consciousness.
Although the depth of the pipeline where the incident occurred is about 50 cm and not very deep, the narrow width of the manhole is said to be causing significant difficulties in the search operation.
Kim Man-jong, the head of the emergency response team at Gyeyang Fire Station, stated, "The diameter of the manhole is only 670 mm, making it difficult to enter with rescue equipment," and explained that "such an environment is delaying the search."
The police and fire authorities have commenced investigations, leaning towards the possibility of suffocation from toxic gas.
A police official stated, "We are making every effort in the search for the missing person," and added, "We plan to investigate compliance with safety protocols at the time of the incident, including whether safety equipment was worn."
Image source: On the 6th, fire personnel are searching for the missing person in a manhole on a road in Byeongbang-dong, Gyeyang-gu, Incheon. 2025.7.6/News1 (Incheon Fire Department)
