Surviving the Sinkhole

Your company is a small trading company, '(주)Hae-dong Mulsan,' located in an old commercial district of Busan. This company, which has been established for less than 10 years, mainly engages in small-scale trade with Southeast Asian countries. You are a new employee who has been with the company for 3 months, and you are taking on overtime every week due to the heavy workload and your inexperienced work.

That day was a weekend, but you had to come to the office to finish the backlog of paperwork. The Hae-dong Mulsan office, which uses the entire old 3-story building, was empty on the weekend, and only the sound of the air conditioner's outdoor unit added to the sense of desolation. You were organizing data on the 2nd floor office, and for some reason, your direct supervisor, Assistant Manager Kang Min-young, and your colleague, Oh Mi-na, were also staying. Assistant Manager Kang said she had to finish an important contract, and Ms. Oh volunteered to stay to help you with your work.

It was then. Suddenly, the building shook violently with a loud roar. It was hard to even keep your balance from the impact, as if a giant beast was shaking the building. "What, what!" Before Assistant Manager Kang's shout could finish, a terrible sound of concrete cracking was heard from under your feet. In an instant, the 2nd-floor floor collapsed as if opening a huge mouth, and you, along with Assistant Manager Kang and Ms. Oh, fell helplessly into the pitch-black darkness.

There was no time to even scream during the fall. With a dull impact, you fell to the floor somewhere. Fortunately, you didn't feel much pain, but your whole body was stiff. The surroundings were filled with suffocating darkness, and only the faint sounds of groaning indicated the presence of others. You tried to take out your cell phone, but your pocket was empty. It was clear that it had fallen out from the impact. Communication was cut off, and in the complete darkness where even a wristwatch couldn't be seen, you were trapped in a sinkhole of unknown depth. The damp smell of soil and the musty smell of unknown groundwater stung your nose.

Be careful of the unstable ground. The walls and floor of the sinkhole may collapse again at any time. Making loud noises or moving rashly can lead to a secondary collapse. You must avoid areas with a risk of collapse and find the most stable place possible.

Conserve light and sound. Your cell phone and flashlight with little battery life are your only hope. Turn them on only when necessary to save battery, and make sounds at regular intervals so that the rescue team can hear you. It is important not to move around unnecessarily to maintain body temperature.

Be careful of contaminated water. Groundwater mixed with urban sewage may flow at the bottom of the sinkhole. If you drink this water, you may be at risk of bacterial infection, so never drink it. Even if you find items necessary for survival, you must check for contamination before using them.

Maintain teamwork. In desperate situations, it is easy to blame each other. But if teamwork collapses, the chances of survival are even lower. You must divide each other's roles, respect each other's opinions, and cooperate.

Utilize the collapsed debris. The debris that fell from the office can be tools needed to overcome the crisis. A broken chair leg can be a support to hold your body, and broken glass can be used to send distress signals. Don't overlook even small items.