"Don't Cross the Bridge!" Resident Prevents Casualties 30 Seconds Before Bridge Collapse

On the 3rd, when Typhoon Maysak, the 9th typhoon, struck, a local resident in Pyeongchang, Gangwon, urgently stopped vehicle traffic 30 seconds before a bridge collapsed, dramatically preventing casualties.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] On the 3rd, when Typhoon No. 9 'Maysak' struck, a local resident in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, urgently stopped vehicle traffic just 30 seconds before a bridge collapsed, dramatically preventing casualties.

According to Pyeongchang County, at around 7:28 a.m. that day, Songjeonggyo Bridge, which connects the downtown area of Hajinburi in Jinbu-myeon and Songjeong-ri, collapsed due to rapidly rising river water.

According to closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the area, it was confirmed that just before the bridge was washed away, a local resident prevented vehicles from entering, thereby avoiding casualties.

The CCTV shows that at 7:28:25 a.m., when a passenger car was entering from the opposite side of the bridge, the resident hurriedly ran out, waving their hands left and right, signaling the vehicle to back away.

The passenger car, having crossed about half of the bridge, noticed the resident blocking the way, turned on its hazard lights, and quickly reversed.

Pyeongchang Songjeong Bridge partially washed away by typhoon. On the 3rd, Songjeong Bridge in Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province, was partially washed away by the swollen river caused by Typhoon Maysak.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Even while the car was reversing, the resident continued to signal for it to move back and also stopped other vehicles from entering the bridge.

About 30 seconds later, at 7:28:55 a.m., part of the bridge suddenly collapsed.

At that time, Hong Jun-gyun (48), head of Songjeong 4-ri, who was controlling traffic with Mr. Park, said, "Around 7 a.m., I received a call from Mr. Park saying, 'There’s a big problem. The bridge is abnormal. It seems dangerous to proceed in this condition.'

Mr. Park witnessed the bridge slightly sinking and began blocking vehicle traffic from 7 a.m., then asked Head Hong for help.

Despite the pouring rain making control difficult, they did not give up and managed to prevent vehicle traffic, which helped avoid casualties.

It is reported that Mr. Park stayed at the bridge until 9 a.m., assisting with control alongside firefighters and police after the bridge collapse.

Head Hong said, "Since it was during rush hour and residential areas were densely located near the bridge, if Mr. Park had not discovered the bridge’s cracks, it could have been a disaster. Mr. Park really worked very hard."

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