One worker was killed and four others are believed to be dead after a 60-meter tower at a decommissioned thermal power plant collapsed during demolition work in the South Korean city of Ulsan on Thursday. Two people are still missing, local firefighters said on Friday. TASR informs about it according to a report by Jonhap and AP agencies.
- A power plant tower collapsed during demolition work in South Korea’s Ulsan.
- The incident claimed one victim, four workers are believed to be dead.
- Two people remain missing after the power plant tower fell.
- Rescuers deployed more than 340 workers for search and rescue operations.
- The President ordered full mobilization to ensure rescue operations.
Nine people were working at the site when the tower collapsed on Thursday. The rescuers managed to free two people from the rubble shortly after their arrival. Another worker who was rescued a little laterwas pronounced dead at the hospital on Friday morning.
A few hours later, they found the bodies of four more people, only one of whom they managed to take to the hospital. An official from the Ulsan Fire Department said all four were believed to be dead. The search was temporarily suspended Friday morning due to concerns about the instability of the wreckage. However, after the discovery of other workers, it was restored again.
More than 340 rescuers were dispatched to the scene, participating in search and rescue operations, along with search dogs, thermal imaging cameras and other detection equipment. “The rescue site is currently covered in a large amount of asbestos and fiberglass… and the space is extremely cramped, so rescuers have to remove the debris by hand to continue rescue operations,” said the official at the briefing.
After news of the tragedy, South Korean President Jae-myong I ordered the authorities to mobilize all available personnel and equipment for rescue work and at the same time ensure the safety of rescue workers. The plant was decommissioned in 2021 after 40 years. Officials said the boiler tower – one of three – was weakened as it was being prepared for demolition using explosives.
