Three people have been killed and three others injured after a decades-old overpass partially collapsed during a safety inspection in central Seoul, South Korea.
The incident occurred at around 2:32pm local time at the Seosomun overpass in western Seoul, during an inspection ahead of its planned demolition.
According to local reports, the structure gave way suddenly while sections of the bridge deck were being examined and concrete slabs were being cut.
Two men in their 50s and 60s died at the scene, while a third injured victim was later pronounced dead.
Officials said those affected were crushed by debris when part of the overpass collapsed without warning.
All six victims were reportedly involved in the inspection process, including city public works officials and a private-sector engineering expert.
Television footage showed emergency responders carrying out search-and-rescue operations as a long section of the overpass lay collapsed onto the street below near a railway crossing in central Seoul.
Work had reportedly been paused shortly before the collapse after inspectors noticed part of the structure had slightly sunk during the demolition preparation, according to Lee Jong-woon of the Seodaemun District Fire Station.
Police and emergency services sealed off the area as twisted steel beams and broken concrete slabs hung dangerously from the remaining structure.