Two tragic construction accidents this week have underscored the serious risks faced by workers on construction sites, resulting in fatalities and injuries.
On Tuesday morning, four workers died and six others were injured when a bridge collapsed at the construction site of the Seoul-Sejong highway in South Korea. The National Fire Agency reported the incident occurred around 9:49 AM local time as workers were operating cranes to lift steel beams between support pillars. The bridge fell and crushed ten workers.
Of the injured, five suffered serious injuries, and one sustained minor injuries, as confirmed by emergency responders. Hyundai Engineering, the construction company responsible for the project, issued an apology for the tragic event. "We sincerely apologize for the loss of life and the injuries caused by the accident at our construction site," the company stated, as reported by Yonhap.
The Seoul-Sejong highway project aims to connect the capital city to Sejong and is divided between two main sections. The Anseong-Guri section was completed on January 1, and the Sejong-Anseong section is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. This collapse raises questions about safety protocols and structural integrity at construction sites.
Meanwhile, another construction tragedy occurred on the same day in Jakarta, Indonesia, where a worker, identified only as S, was killed after being struck by falling debris from a building under construction on Jalan Mangga, North Jakarta. The incident took place at around 12:20 PM local time, as per the report from the Koja Police Department.
According to authorities, the 58-year-old worker was digging at the site during lunch break when the wall above him unexpectedly fell, hitting him directly. "The victim suffered fatal head injuries, leading to his death on site," said Alex Chandra, the head of criminal investigations at the Koja precinct.
After receiving the report of the incident, police quickly arrived at the scene to verify the situation and found the worker had been crushed by the fallen structure. His body was removed and sent to Kramat Jati Police Hospital for examination.
Authorities are currently conducting investigations and have been gathering statements from witnesses to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Both incidents reflect the pressing need for enhanced safety measures and rigorous enforcement of occupational safety standards. With construction work inherently risky, ensuring the safety of workers should be prioritized to prevent such preventable tragedies from occurring again.