Hanwha Construction Korean Worker Dies in Iraq Site... "Suspected COVID-19"

Bismaya New City Construction Site

[Asia Economy Reporter Onyu Lim] A Korean employee of a Hanwha Construction subcontractor working in Iraq died locally after showing suspected symptoms of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Ten others who worked together and returned to Korea have also tested positive.

Hanwha Construction announced on the 30th that Lee Mo (62), the head of a subcontractor who showed suspected COVID-19 symptoms at the construction site of the new city of Bismayah on the outskirts of Baghdad, Iraq, died on the 27th. Lee showed fever and pneumonia symptoms in mid-month and was transferred to a hospital in Baghdad, where he died during treatment.

Hanwha Construction suspended construction work at the Bismayah site from the 15th, and employees are currently in quarantine. However, anxiety is spreading as a Bangladeshi worker who was working there also showed suspected COVID-19 symptoms and died on the 19th. A Hanwha Construction official said on the 29th, "We are waiting for the exact cause of death investigation results from the Iraqi health authorities."

Of the 300 people at the Bismayah site, half returned to Korea on special UN flights on the 11th and 21st, leaving about 150 Koreans remaining. Among those who returned, 10 tested positive for COVID-19, all of whom are Hanwha Construction personnel. Seven belong to Hanwha Construction, and the remaining three are subcontractor employees. Considering this, there is a possibility of additional confirmed cases among those remaining at the site.

The Korean Embassy urged, "Iraq lacks treatment facilities and securing hospital beds is difficult in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak," adding, "Since it can be assumed that infected employees are already working at construction sites in Iraq, please strictly follow COVID-19 prevention guidelines."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.