The Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided to install a manhole fall prevention facility to prevent a sewer fall accident caused by the opening of the manhole cover.



The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced today (12th) that it will first install fall prevention facilities in areas vulnerable to flooding such as low-lying areas and the reverse sewerage section, and gradually expand the installation.



This is a measure taken after a series of accidents such as a manhole cover that could not withstand the water pressure bounced off due to the torrential downpour that hit the central region on the 8th, and citizens disappeared into the sewer.



The fall prevention facilities in the form of nets or steel structures will be installed by autonomous districts from the second half of this year, and the city will be trialled by procuring necessary business expenses such as disaster management funds.



After verifying the effectiveness of this pilot installation, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said it plans to review its full-scale introduction.



A city official said, "There were examples of (fall prevention facilities) being introduced by local governments at home and abroad, but it was difficult to find an actual operation case." We are looking for ways to improve it,” he said.



Concerned by some that the fall prevention facility could block the water flow, he explained, "When the fall prevention facility is located above the manhole, there is no obstruction to the water flow. It may cause problems due to deterioration of the facility, but we plan to check it periodically." .


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On the other hand, on the night of the 8th, when it rained, a woman in her 50s and her brother in her 40s were swept into a manhole on a road in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul.



According to the fire department and police, the manhole cover could not withstand the sudden increase in water even though it was a special model with a locking function and bounced off.



A younger brother in his 40s was found dead in a manhole near a bus stop about 1.5 km away on the 10th, two days after the accident.



An older sister in her 50s was also found dead on the 11th in the Banpocheon Stream near Dongjak Station, about 4km away from the accident site.



As a missing woman was found, 13 people died and 6 people were missing from the torrential rain (as of 6 am on the 12th).