The Coast Guard and the city of Pohang have launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse of the Boritdol Bridge in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.

The Coast Guard plans to intensively examine the circumstances surrounding the bridge's collapse 13 years after its completion, including whether there were issues with its design and construction, and whether Pohang City's management and supervision were appropriate.

If allegations or wrongdoing are confirmed during the fact-finding process, relevant individuals will be booked and the probe will be converted into a formal criminal investigation.

According to the Pohang Coast Guard and other authorities on the 29th, the metropolitan investigation unit of the Donghae Regional Coast Guard Headquarters is looking into overall matters related to the collapse of the offshore pedestrian bridge.

Authorities plan to check the causes of the collapse, whether there were problems with design and construction, and if Pohang City's management and supervision were flawed, given that the bridge collapsed 13 years after completion.

If any criminal charges are found, suspects will be booked and investigated.

Separately, the city of Pohang has also initiated its own investigation into the cause of the collapse.

Because the Boritdol Bridge is an offshore pedestrian bridge, the Coast Guard is handling the investigation and related matters.

Previously on the afternoon of the 28th, a middle section of about 50 meters of the piers and deck of the Boritdol Bridge in Janggil-ri, Guryongpo-eup, Nam-gu, Pohang, collapsed.

Seventeen anglers who were visiting a rock reef near the Boritdol Bridge observatory on the sea side were temporarily stranded and later rescued by Coast Guard authorities and private fishing boats.

The Boritdol Bridge is a 225-meter-long offshore pedestrian bridge connecting a rock reef to the coastline.

Pohang City completed its construction in 2013 at a cost of 11.5 billion won, funded by national and municipal budgets.

It was confirmed that although the accident-stricken Boritdol Bridge underwent repair work last year due to safety issues stemming from aging, it was not included in the facilities subject to statutory regular safety inspections.

An official from the Donghae Regional Coast Guard Headquarters explained, "This is not a formal investigation yet, but a preliminary stage to verify facts."
 
(Photo: Yonhap News)