4 Injured While Attempting to Rescue Colleague in Manhole Accident; Suspected Toxic Gas Exposure

Police are investigating an incident in which four workers were hospitalized after inspecting a sewage pipe inside a manhole.

According to the Jinan Police Station in North Jeolla Province and other authorities, the accident occurred at approximately 10:54 a.m. today (June 19) at a sewage maintenance project site in Seongsu-myeon, Jinan-gun, leaving four workers unconscious.

Firefighters dispatched to the scene rescued the four individuals, including a person in their 50s identified as A, who were found collapsed inside a sewage pipe 4 meters deep within the manhole.

Two of the workers, including A, were in critical condition with diminished consciousness, while the other two were transported to the hospital with minor injuries, such as dizziness.

The sewage pipe where the accident occurred was a newly installed line that was not yet in operation.

Police believe that one worker collapsed while inspecting the interior, and the others entered one by one to rescue their colleague, subsequently falling victim to the same accident.

A police official stated, "It appears the accident was caused by toxic gas after they entered the manhole," adding, "We plan to investigate the circumstances by questioning the company the workers belong to."

(Photo: Yonhap News/Provided by reader)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.