Daegu police close investigation into fatal Nam-gu rockfall

The Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency has concluded its investigation into a fatal rockfall accident that occurred on May 8 in Bongdeok-dong, Nam-gu, ruling the event an unpredictable and exceptional occurrence. The incident, which involved large rocks falling onto a pedestrian path near an underpass, resulted in the death of one person.

Expert assessments indicated that the collapse site possessed geological characteristics that made detecting danger difficult, specifically due to developed joints (cracks) in the rock. It was determined that the stability of the rock mass had been weakened by trees growing within these joints for over 20 years, and the sudden strong winds on the day of the accident triggered the collapse. Consequently, police stated they could not find grounds for criminal liability as the event was deemed unforeseeable.

In response to the incident, Daegu City is planning to install a protective tunnel at the site to prevent future accidents. Construction is targeted to begin in September, with the goal of reopening the passage to traffic by November.