South Korean Police conducted raids on the offices of the Seoul city government and an engineering company involved in the demolition of an overpass in western Seoul. The overpass partially collapsed, resulting in three deaths and three injuries. The raids, involving 33 police investigators and 20 workplace safety officials, aim to gather evidence to determine the cause of the collapse and hold those responsible accountable.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency carried out searches and seizures at seven locations, including the city government’s infrastructure headquarters and contractors linked to the demolition work. The labor ministry is also part of the investigation to ensure that proper safety measures were followed at the site. President Lee Jae Myung has called for a swift investigation and strict punishment for those responsible for safety-related incidents, including the overpass collapse.
Following the collapse during an on-site safety inspection, police obtained security camera footage of the incident. The city government is cooperating with the investigation to ascertain the cause of the accident. The overpass, built in 1966, was undergoing demolition due to safety concerns and was scheduled for complete removal by next month.
The labor ministry approved the city government’s plan to resume the demolition work, aiming to finish the process by early Saturday morning. The authorities are determined to uncover the exact reasons behind the collapse and ensure accountability for the tragic incident.
