A shocking incident unfolded recently when a sinkhole opened up near a busy traffic junction, capturing the attention of many online. A dashcam video circulating on social media shows a motorcyclist suddenly falling into a large hole while a car just ahead barely avoids the disaster.
The sinkhole, measuring about 20 meters wide and deep, was discovered earlier on Tuesday when rescuers found a motorcycle and a mobile phone inside. The unfortunate motorcyclist, a man believed to be in his 30s, has not yet been identified by officials.
Kim Chang-seop, the head of the Gangdong fire station, reported that the sinkhole contains approximately 2,000 tons of a mix of soil and water. Local authorities are still investigating the cause of this collapse.
This incident is not isolated. A recent report indicated that Seoul has experienced 223 sinkholes over the past decade. In a similar case earlier this year, a truck driver went missing after his vehicle fell into a sinkhole in Yashio, Japan. Last August, a search for a woman who disappeared into a pavement sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur was called off after a week.
Sinkholes often occur when limestone or chalk erodes over time, leading to depressions in the ground. Sometimes, the ground above the eroded area can collapse suddenly, creating what is known as a collapse sinkhole. Human activities, such as excavation, can also contribute to these dangerous formations.
As authorities continue to investigate this latest incident, the community is left to wonder about the safety of their roads and the potential for more sinkholes in the future.