At around 9:20 a.m. today (October 30), a pile driver—a construction machine used to bore into the ground—toppled over toward an adjacent apartment complex at a new apartment construction site in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do.

Construction barriers were knocked down, and the apartment complex's landscaping trees and fences were smashed beyond recognition.

The accident reportedly occurred while the pile driver was being moved. One equipment operator sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital.

[Site Official: No casualties occurred, and only a few trees were knocked down, so it's not a major issue...]

[Construction Official: We conducted a mobility safety review as well. We are currently preparing and devising countermeasures.]

As the pile driver fell, it also crushed a pedestrian walkway routinely used by residents.

Fortunately, there were no casualties among residents, but had anyone been passing through at the time, it could have led to a major disaster.

The fallen pile driver is approximately 33 meters long.

It came to a stop just about 5 meters away from the actual apartment building where residents live.

[Moon Gyu-hwan / Apartment Resident: With a loud 'thud,' I thought it was an earthquake. When I came out and saw it, it was so terrifying for a moment. There is a daycare center right around here. The little kids come out for walks, holding hands in a line. It's horrific to even think about.]

Residents plan to file claims for damages against the construction company.

[Resident Representative: How would it feel to watch it falling from above inside the apartment? It would feel like it's coming straight at you. I think compensating for psychological damage or trauma is only basic.]

Police are investigating the exact cause of the accident by questioning construction officials.

(Reported by Kim su-yun | Video by Kyungmun | Video Editing by Lee Seung-jin | Produced by SBS Digital News)