Firefighters are searching and rescuing construction workers at a subway construction site in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, in Wednesday morning. / Yonhap



By Lee Han-soo

A subway construction site in Namyangju city collapsed on Wednesday morning, leaving four workers dead and 10 injured, some critically.

The survivors, who were trapped beneath debris 15 meters underground, were taken to hospital, according to authorities.

The accident happened at 7:20 a.m. while 17 people were working near Jugok 2 Bridge.

"There is a possibility that the death toll might rise because some of the injured workers are in critical condition," a police spokesperson said.

"We have set up a situation room at the site," said an official from POSCO E&C, a construction unit of the world's fourth-largest steelmaker.

Whether the victims are from the company or a subcontractor has not been clarified.

Firefighters and police are investigating.