ANSEONG, South Korea: A tragic accident at a highway construction site in Anseong, South Korea, claimed the lives of at least four workers and left six others injured on Tuesday, according to fire officials.

The incident occurred around 9:49 a.m. local time when several large concrete support structures collapsed.

Authorities reported that five 50-meter-long concrete slabs, which were being hoisted into place by a crane, came crashing down in succession. Anseong fire official Ko Kyung-man confirmed that the casualties included two Chinese nationals among the deceased, while five of the injured were in critical condition, including another Chinese worker.

"They were working to install a deck on the bridge," Ko said in a televised briefing. "All of the 10 were up on the deck ... and fell from both sides when it collapsed."

Emergency response teams quickly mobilized at the scene, with rescue workers combing through the wreckage of twisted metal and broken concrete beneath the collapsed bridge. Broadcaster YTN aired dramatic footage showing the moment the bridge deck gave way.

Acting President Choi Sang-mok instructed authorities to deploy all available personnel and resources to search for any missing individuals and implement safety measures to prevent further risks. The National Fire Agency confirmed that three helicopters and nearly 150 emergency responders were engaged in rescue efforts. Meanwhile, the Transport Ministry dispatched a team of officials to investigate the cause of the collapse.

South Korea continues to face challenges in industrial safety despite efforts to strengthen regulations. In 2022, the government introduced a law aimed at holding company executives accountable for workplace deaths. However, fatal accidents remain frequent, particularly in the construction sector.

Earlier this month, a fire at a hotel construction site in Busan killed six people, forcing authorities to evacuate around 100 individuals, including 14 workers rescued from a rooftop by helicopter. Last June, a devastating fire at a lithium battery factory, attributed to safety lapses, claimed the lives of 23 workers.

According to the South Korean labor ministry, 598 industrial workers died in 2023, with construction-related incidents accounting for nearly half of the fatalities. While the total number of deaths decreased from 644 in 2022, the latest tragedy underscores the ongoing risks faced by workers in the country's industrial and construction sectors.