Osan Overpass Collapse, Warning Signs Raised Before the Incident

It has been confirmed that there were already warning signs prior to the collapse of the overpass retaining wall at the Gajang Intersection in Osan City, Gyeonggi Province.

On the 18th, a post titled "Photo of the Complaint Filed Two Days Before the Osan Incident" was uploaded to an online community.

This post was created at around 8:35 PM on the day before the incident and included a short description stating, "It appeared to be about to collapse for the past two days," along with photos showing the condition of the road.

The road in the photos was in a severely damaged state, looking as if it could collapse at any moment.

No Action Taken by Osan City Despite Safety Reports

An even more shocking fact is that a similar complaint had been filed with the Osan City Roads and Traffic Department through the Safety Report System on the 15th.

The complainant clearly pointed out the risk by stating, "The ground on the right side of Lane 2 is sinking. There is a concern for collapse when rainwater seeps in." However, despite receiving this complaint, Osan City did not take appropriate measures, ultimately leading to the incident.

The overpass where the accident occurred has revealed previous safety issues as well.

In September 2018, a retaining wall measuring 8 meters high and 20 meters long collapsed, covering the road with earth. At that time, one lane was closed for more than 12 hours.

While there were no casualties, it is reported that the anxiety among citizens was significant.

Tragedy Occurred Despite B Rating in Safety Inspection

Osan City explained regarding the accident, "In the detailed safety inspection conducted last June, the retaining wall was rated as B, indicating no safety issues." However, the inspection raised concerns about "repeated heavy vehicle loads and plastic deformation of asphalt due to high temperatures," and the city added that they were preparing a response plan based on these concerns.

Currently, the Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency is conducting an investigation with a dedicated team formed around the Criminal Investigation Unit to identify the cause of the incident.

Considering that a citizen died due to defects in the installation and management of public facilities, the applicability of the Serious Accident Punishment Act is also being reviewed.

If negligence is confirmed, the local government mayor is expected to bear criminal responsibility. The police indicated that they plan to conduct a joint investigation as soon as the restoration of the site is completed.

Image source: Online community, on the afternoon of the 16th, firefighters are conducting rescue operations for vehicles buried under the collapsed wall of the overpass at Gajang Intersection in Osan City, Gyeonggi Province. / Photo provided by Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters