Sinkhole in Seoul claims motorcyclist’s life after he plunges into collapsing road

A South Korean motorcyclist has been found dead about 17 hours after he fell into a massive sinkhole that suddenly opened up in Seoul’s Gangdong-gu district.

The 34-year-old man, identified only by his surname Park, was riding his motorcycle at about 6.30pm on Monday when a large sinkhole suddenly opened up in the middle of the road in front of him, according to The Korea Herald.

Measuring about 20m (65 feet) in diameter and about 20m deep, the sinkhole spanned four lanes of the road near the Hanyoung Foreign Language High School in Myeongil-dong.

Dash cam footage from a bystander captured the moment that Park and his motorcycle plunge into the hole. It also shows a white SUV that is just ahead of him going airborne briefly as its driver speeds up and drives over a piece of the collapsing road to escape falling into the sinkhole.

The SUV’s female driver sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital while a search was immediately launched for Park.

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Twenty-metre-deep sinkhole in South Korea kills motorcyclist

Twenty-metre-deep sinkhole in South Korea kills motorcyclist

The search, which went on throughout most of the night, was difficult due to the 6,480 tonnes (7,150 tons) of soil and sand that had built up in the sinkhole. Firefighters also had to drain about 1,800 tons of water that had accumulated inside the crater. Crews in diving suits and a rescue dog were also deployed at the scene.