👷‍♂️ 20s Excavator Driver Rescued After 13 Hours in Collapsed Tunnel, One Still Missing 😔

In a dramatic rescue operation, a 20-year-old excavator driver was pulled from the debris of a collapsed subway tunnel construction site in Gwangmyeong, South Korea, after being trapped for over 13 hours. Unfortunately, one worker remains missing.

The Incident

The collapse occurred at the Shinansan Line underground tunnel construction site in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province. The young driver, identified as Mr. A, was trapped approximately 30 meters (about 98 feet) underground following the collapse on the 11th of April, 2025.

The Rescue

Emergency responders worked tirelessly through the night. They managed to locate Mr. A early on in the rescue efforts and maintained contact with him via phone. However, the unstable nature of the collapsed site made it too dangerous to use heavy machinery, prolonging the rescue operation. Finally, at 4:27 AM KST on April 12th, Mr. A was safely extracted from the rubble.

“KST” stands for Korea Standard Time, which is GMT+9. So, if it’s noon in London, it’s 9 PM in South Korea.

Condition of the Rescued Driver

Miraculously, Mr. A was conscious and able to communicate with the rescue team even while trapped. He was immediately transported to a hospital for a thorough examination, but initial reports indicate that his injuries are not life-threatening. It’s suspected that he has been trapped by debris for hours, so he is undergoing a thorough medical examination.

The Missing Worker

Tragically, one worker, a Posco E&C employee in his 50s, remains unaccounted for. Search efforts are still underway to locate the missing individual.

Details of the Collapse

The collapse occurred at a section of the Shinansan Line 복선전철 (bokseon jeoncheol) – which means double-track railway – Line 5-2 construction site near Yangji Intersection in Iljik-dong, Gwangmyeong City. Posco E&C is the construction company in charge. Initially, five workers were reported as missing, but three were quickly confirmed safe.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in construction work and the importance of stringent safety measures. 🙏