SEOUL: A South Korean worker was found dead Wednesday (April 16) at the site of a new metro line which collapsed last week near the capital Seoul, officials said.

Rescuers struggled to locate the man in his 50s after Friday's accident in the city of Gwangmyeong, southwest of the capital.

"I extend my condolences to the bereaved family," Gwangmyeong Mayor Park Seung-won said.

A second trapped worker was rescued around 13 hours after the incident, which authorities said happened during "tunnel reinforcement work".

The construction site was part of an underground transit project connecting Seoul's Yeouido district to Ansan and Siheung in Gyeonggi province.

The collapse had prompted city authorities to temporarily evacuate around 2,300 residents living nearby due to concerns about additional damage.

The incident came just weeks after one person was killed when a massive sinkhole opened up in Seoul.

The sinkhole accident took place at a site where extension work for a different metro line was underway. - AFP