As much as six individuals fainted after inhaling what gave the impression to be poisonous fuel at POSCO’s Pohang Steelworks on Thursday, officers mentioned.
The accident occurred round 1:30 p.m. on the steelworks in Pohang, 262 kilometers southeast of Seoul, whereas two contracted cleaners and a POSCO worker had been eradicating sludge outdoors a plant, they mentioned.
Firefighters and police mentioned the three had been present in cardiac arrest after inhaling the fuel. They had been taken to close by hospitals and stay unconscious, with some requiring respiratory help.
Three POSCO in-house firefighters had been additionally uncovered to the fuel whereas trying to rescue the victims, however their situations weren’t life-threatening, officers added.
Authorities cited carbon monoxide poisoning as a attainable trigger.
Police mentioned it may take time to find out the total circumstances of the incident, as solely a restricted variety of personnel outfitted with protecting gear can entry the location on account of lingering fuel.
“It is taking time to find out the precise define of the accident and extent of harm,” a police official mentioned, including that investigators would additionally look into whether or not security protocols had been correctly adopted.
The accident comes solely two weeks after one employee was killed and three others suffered burns after turning into uncovered to chemical substances from broken pipes on the steelworks.
