Prosecutors Investigate Site Including Mihocheon Embankment in 'Osong Underpass Disaster'

Professors and Other 'Expert Investigation Advisory Committee' Members Also Attend

The prosecution, which is investigating the flooding accident at the Osong Underpass in Cheongju, will conduct inspections of the underpass and surrounding facilities together with a panel of expert advisory investigators composed of university professors and other specialists.

At the search and rescue site of Gungpyeong 2 Underpass in Osong-eup, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, which was flooded due to the collapse of the Miho Stream embankment, firefighters, police, and other officials are conducting internal cleanup and searching for belongings.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Osong Underpass Flooding Accident Prosecution Investigation Headquarters (Head: Bae Yong-won, Chief Prosecutor of Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office) announced on the 2nd that starting from 10 a.m. on the 3rd, they plan to inspect the accident site and surrounding facilities such as the temporary embankment, underpass, and Miho River Bridge together with the expert advisory investigators composed of professors and other specialists. The site inspection will be attended by Head Bae Yong-won, Deputy Head Jeong Hee-do, and members of the investigation team.

Earlier, the investigation headquarters conducted a search and seizure operation on five companies, including the construction company and supervisors of the Miho River embankment, the previous day. The investigation team secured materials related to suspicions of poor construction of the Miho River embankment. They are investigating allegations of false police reports related to the flooding accident and suspicions of poor construction of the Miho River embankment.

The Miho River embankment was unlawfully dismantled under the Miho River Bridge during the "Osong?Cheongju (Section 2) Road Expansion Project" and was rebuilt just before the monsoon season. The Office for Government Policy Coordination judged that the Administrative City Construction Agency failed to properly manage and supervise the construction of the substandard temporary embankment and referred a total of 36 people to the prosecution for investigation.

Earlier, on the 15th of last month, at the Gungpyeong 2 Underpass in Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk Province, heavy rain caused the Miho River embankment to break, allowing river water to flood in and submerge 17 vehicles, including city buses. This accident resulted in 14 deaths and 10 injuries, totaling 24 casualties.

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