A gas leak near a construction site outside Seoul Subway Line Nos. 2 and 3’s Seoul National University of Education Station in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul led to evacuations and the temporary suspension of subway services at the station, authorities said Friday.
Two people were reported to be injured as of press time, both identified as employees working at the station. The workers were reported to have inhaled the gas while assisting commuters in their evacuation. One was taken to the hospital shortly after while the other received treatment at the scene.
According to fire and police authorities, an excavator struck an underground gas pipeline at a construction site near Exit No. 11 of the subway station at 10:47 a.m.
Authorities stated that the incident prompted the suspension of subway operations running across both subway lines. Commuters inside the subway station were prompted to evacuate immediately upon the report.
While trains on Line Nos. 2 and 3 were ordered to pass the station from 11:09 a.m., and 11:23 a.m., respectively, full operations resumed around 2:43 p.m. — approximately four and a half hours after the leak was first reported to authorities.
At 11:15 a.m., police authorities blocked off Exit Nos. 10 and 11 and cordoned off pedestrian access to surrounding areas. Vehicles were turned away from driving near a section of Seocho-daero running close by both exits as part of authorities’ measures in preventing a potential safety hazard. As of 2:50 p.m., pedestrian and vehicle access was reopened.
Friday morning's incident also disrupted gas services to approximately 1,900 households in the vicinity, as local energy provider Ko-One Energy Service suspended supply to prevent further risk. Services were reinstated around 4 p.m. as repairs had been completed.
lee.jungjoo@heraldcorp.com
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