Preventing "Manhole Accidents"... Seoul City Pilots Installation of "Fall Prevention Facilities"

Priority Implementation in Flood-Prone Areas and Sewer Backflow Sections

Manhole fall prevention facility. Photo by Seoul City

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 12th that it will pilot the installation of 'manhole fall prevention facilities,' such as nets or metal structures inside sewer manholes, to prevent accidents caused by manhole covers opening that could lead to casualties.

This measure is expected to prevent accidents where people are swept into manholes when sewer manhole covers open during heavy rain. On the 8th, due to heavy rain in the metropolitan area, a manhole cover on a road in Seocho-gu, Seoul, failed to withstand water pressure and opened, causing two people to be sucked into the manhole. The bodies of the two siblings were found separately near Banpocheon by Dongjak Station in Dongjak-gu and near a bus stop manhole in Seocho-dong, Seoul.

On the night of the 8th, officials near Bongeunsa Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, urgently installed water barriers as the nearby road at the COEX entrance began to flood. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Although the manhole cover was a special model with a locking function, it is understood that the water pressure in the sewer pipes rose due to rainfall exceeding 100 mm per hour, causing the accident.

The city plans to first introduce these facilities in flood-prone low-lying areas and sewer backflow sections starting in the second half of this year, then expand installations. The autonomous districts will be responsible for installation, while the city will actively secure and support necessary project funds such as disaster management funds.

Han Je-hyun, Deputy Mayor for Administration of Seoul, said, "We will prioritize citizens' safety and take swift action to prevent the recurrence of manhole cover opening accidents causing casualties during the rainy season."

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