Boritdol Bridge Collapses Despite 'C Grade' Safety Rating... No Casualties Reported (Comprehensive)

Collapse of Marine Pedestrian Bridge in Guryongpo, Pohang
17 Tourists and Anglers Stranded, Later Rescued
Fire Authorities and Coast Guard Conducting Second Underwater Search

A marine pedestrian bridge in Guryongpo-eup, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, collapsed, temporarily stranding tourists and anglers, all of whom have since been rescued. It is reported that the bridge received a 'C grade' (average) during last year’s safety inspection. So far, no human casualties have been confirmed.

On the afternoon of the 28th, part of the pier and deck of Boritdolgyo Bridge, a sea footbridge in Janggil-ri, Guryongpo-eup, Nam-gu, Pohang City, Gyeongbuk Province, collapsed. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the fire authorities and Pohang city officials on July 28, a report was received at approximately 1:15 p.m. stating that the middle pier and deck of Boritdol Bridge in Janggil-ri, Guryongpo-eup, Nam-gu, Pohang-si had collapsed. Boritdol Bridge is a 225-meter-long marine pedestrian bridge connecting rocks to the coastline and was constructed by the city of Pohang in 2013 at a total cost of 11.5 billion won, funded by both the national and municipal governments.

The collapsed section of the facility is estimated to be several tens of meters long. A total of 17 people, including tourists and anglers who were on the rocks near the Boritdol Bridge observatory built out over the sea, were temporarily stranded and later rescued by fire authorities and private fishing boats.

No pedestrians were found to be crossing the bridge at the point of collapse. Authorities conducted a primary search of the accident site for about 50 minutes after the incident but found no casualties. It is reported that second underwater search operations are being carried out by fire authorities and the Pohang Coast Guard.

Some of the bridge piers and deck of Boritdolgyo have collapsed, and access is restricted. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The safety management of the bridge has drawn scrutiny. Pohang city commissioned an external company to conduct a safety inspection of Boritdol Bridge from February to May last year, during which the bridge received a safety rating of 'C grade (average)'. Subsequently, the city repaired the railings and deck. This year, during a detailed safety diagnosis of the observatory at the end of the bridge, the need for a structural stability assessment was raised, and since May, access from the middle point of the bridge has been restricted.

Pohang city announced that it believes anglers moved beyond the restricted area to reach the rocks and that it plans to conduct urgent inspections of similar bridges in the region as well as to proceed with the demolition of the damaged bridge.

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