Warning Ignored: Retaining Wall Collapse Claims Life in Osan

City officials in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, received a civil complaint earlier this week warning of the potential collapse of a retaining wall just one day before the structure gave way, killing one person.

The complaint, submitted online at 7:19 a.m. Tuesday, raised concerns about a sinking section of a two-lane road near an intersection in Gajang-dong. The petitioner feared that the retaining wall beneath it could collapse during heavy rainfall.
{vi5}”The retaining wall may collapse under continuous rainfall. I urge you to check it as soon as possible,” the concerned citizen wrote, including a link to a street-view map pinpointing the exact location.

City officials promptly responded, promising swift action. By 4 p.m. the same day, they had repaired potholes on the road above the wall. However, they failed to address the main concern of the complaint – the retaining wall itself. The structure collapsed around 7:04 p.m. on Wednesday.

In their defense, officials told local media that they believed the complaint only pertained to the pothole issue and did not anticipate the wall’s failure. They also noted that the wall had received a “B” rating in a safety inspection last month, deeming it structurally sound.

The tragic collapse buried two vehicles with their drivers inside, resulting in one fatality and one injury.