Escalator Backward Running Fear... Is It Safe Elsewhere?

Escalator at Sunae Station 'No Issues' a Month Ago
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On the 8th, during the morning rush hour, 14 people sustained various injuries in an escalator rollback accident at Sunae Station on the Bundang Line. CCTV footage from the scene captured a harrowing moment when the upward-moving escalator suddenly reversed direction, causing people to tumble downwards in a heap.

As those who lost their balance fell, other passengers also tripped over them, quickly piling up layer upon layer of people. Some even escaped by crossing over the railing to the downward escalator on the opposite side.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The police believe it is unlikely that anyone manually operated the escalator's control device at the scene.

The escalator's operation and maintenance are managed not by Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) but by a separate contracted company, which conducted a regular inspection on the 10th of last month and reported no abnormalities.

It is also understood that the escalator passed the annual safety inspection conducted by the Korea Elevator Safety Agency on September 30th last year without any issues. There are concerns about the possibility of an accident due to escalator aging. The escalator involved in the accident was installed in 2009 and is in its 14th year of use this year.

However, some experts believe that if regular inspections are properly conducted, the likelihood of a rollback accident occurring is low.

Professor Lee Young-joo of the Department of Fire and Disaster Prevention at the University of Seoul said on YTN The News, "Although it can be considered aged since it has been in use for over 10 years, escalators and elevators undergo multiple inspections annually. Since these facilities are used for almost the same lifespan as the building, maintenance is crucial. It is premature to conclude that aging is the cause."

A similar accident occurred 10 years ago at Yatap Station on the Bundang Line. In July 2013, during the evening rush hour, the upward escalator at Exit 4 of Yatap Station suddenly reversed, injuring 39 people with moderate to severe injuries.

The cause of that accident was found to be the replacement of the 'pinion gear,' which connects the reducer and motor, with counterfeit parts during escalator repairs.

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