Watch: Sinkhole Swallows Car In Korea, Causes Major Traffic Chaos

Days after an Indian woman fell into a sinkhole in Malaysia, another similar incident was reported in Seoul, South Korea. As per Associated Press, a sinkhole appeared out of nowhere at around 11:20 am and a car traveling on Seongsan-ro in Yeonhui-dong area crashed into a massive hole. The vehicle, heading towards Seongsan Bridge, was carrying an 82-year-old driver and a 76-year-old passenger. Both individuals were injured, but the elderly driver was in critical condition. Emergency crews rushed them to a local hospital for urgent treatment. The sinkhole not only caused serious injuries but also led to major traffic jams. Following the incident, the area has been closed for public use, due to repair work and investigations are underway.

Last year, Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport had complained that between 2019 and 2023, at least 879 sinkholes appeared on various streets. Almost half of these sinkholes were linked to broken sewer pipes. Meanwhile, social media has been flooded with images and videos of the recent incident, which shows a white car trapped in a hole, measuring around 2.5 meters (8 feet) deep, that suddenly opened up on a street in central Seoul.

In 2014, a massive sinkhole appeared near the construction site of Seoul’s tallest building, Lotte World Tower. Following the initial discovery in June, several others were also found in the area. At the time, a major sinkhole near the National Assembly in Yeouido, measuring about one meter wide and deep, was also reported. Local police were unsure of the cause and after working with Seoul Metro and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, they determined that the sinkholes were not related to sewer issues. Some experts think that the sinkholes might be caused by construction activities.

Last week, Vijaya Lakshmi Gali, a 48-year-old Indian resident, disappeared after falling into an 8 meter deep sinkhole in the Masjid India area in Kuala Lumpur. Despite search efforts, authorities have not yet located the woman. The incident has left residents concerned over the negligence, especially after it was discovered that the sinkhole appeared in the same location where a similar incident had happened last year. During that time, the pavement was only temporarily repaired.