A motorcyclist in Seoul, South Korea, tragically fell victim to a large sinkhole that suddenly opened on an expressway.
The 33-year-old man, identified by the surname Park, was discovered dead just before noon on Tuesday, March 25, following 17 hours of search efforts overnight.
Disturbing dashcam footage from a vehicle behind him captures the moment the biker plunged into the sinkhole, which formed unexpectedly on the afternoon of March 24. A white car in front of the motorcycle was nearly caught in the collapse but managed to accelerate away, narrowly avoiding disaster.
The footage vividly shows how close the driver of the white vehicle came to the horrifying incident; fortunately, they sustained only minor injuries.
Rescue efforts revealed Park’s body in a subway tunnel, located about 164 feet (50 meters) from the center of the sinkhole, according to emergency officer Kim Chang Seob, who held a televised briefing. He noted that Park was found wearing a helmet and motorcycle boots, and rescue teams located his Japanese-manufactured motorcycle and mobile phone before reaching him. Excavators, shovels, and other equipment were utilized in the search.
The sinkhole, which measured 65 feet (20 meters) wide and deep, appeared at an intersection in the Gangdong District of Seoul, and investigations into its cause are currently ongoing.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the site Monday evening, urging authorities to determine the factors behind the sinkhole and to implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The dramatic event, captured on dashcam, has since gone viral, raising significant concerns about road safety. Despite the extensive rescue efforts, the motorcyclist did not survive.
