Repeated ground collapse accidents, my footing feels unstable

On the early morning of the 13th, a large sinkhole (ground collapse) measuring 5 meters wide, 3 meters long, and 5 meters deep occurred near the construction site of the Saha-Hadan urban railway in Saha-gu, Busan. At the same Saha-Hadan line construction site, a large sinkhole had appeared in September of last year, causing two trucks to fall 8 meters underground. On the same day, a ground collapse occurred on the road next to Exit 2 of Aeo Gate Station in Mapo-gu, Seoul, with a diameter of about 40 centimeters and a depth of approximately 130 centimeters. Earlier, on the 11th, the Shinan-Sanseon underground tunnel construction site in Gwangmyeong City, Gyeonggi Province, collapsed, and as a result, a six-lane road in the middle of the road and construction facilities were also destroyed.

On the 24th of last month, a large sinkhole measuring 20 meters in width, 20 meters in length, and 20 meters in depth occurred on the road in Myeongil-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, and less than 20 days after a motorcyclist in their 30s died in an accident, several more ground collapses have already occurred. Even though the monsoon season, which is considered the main cause of ground weakening, is not during the heavy rain season, large sinkhole incidents continue to occur in the spring.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Underground Safety Information System (JIS), the number of sinkhole accidents from 2018, when related statistics began to be compiled, to 2024 is 1,337 cases, averaging about 200 cases per year. Various factors contribute to this, including leaks in aging water and sewage pipes causing underground holes to enlarge, ground stress from construction projects such as subways, and poor construction by builders. In South Korea, the aging of water and sewage facilities built during the rapid growth period of the 1970s and 1980s has become severe, making it impossible to guarantee safety underfoot in any major city. Of the 6,863 km of roads managed in Seoul, 26.95% (about 1,850 km) are at risk of ground subsidence.

To prevent ground subsidence accidents, thorough and systematic management of underground facilities and the establishment of early warning systems are essential. In areas where underground facilities are aging, repairs must be carried out promptly. Especially near construction sites, more frequent checks for leaks and assessments of ground conditions are necessary. Rigorous supervision of all aspects of underground construction, including subway construction methods, ground structure assessments, and leak prevention measures, is also required. Ground subsidence is a social disaster that threatens citizens' daily lives and safety. The danger beneath our feet must no longer be ignored.

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Landslide accidents at construction sites have become very serious these days.

It seems that safety management from the construction supervision is not being handled very well.

I really think a major accident will happen if we continue like this.. It's scary..

This isn't a natural disaster; it's all human error.