The collapsed boiler tower on the Ulsan department of Korea East-West Energy Firm as seen on Nov. 6, 2025. (Yonhap)
On Thursday afternoon, a boiler tower construction collapsed throughout demolition work at a thermal energy plant in Ulsan, trapping 9 folks underneath particles. As of Friday afternoon, two folks had been rescued, three had died, two have been feared useless, and two had but to be positioned.
In line with fireplace authorities within the southeastern metropolis, the accident on the Ulsan department of Korea East-West Energy Firm occurred round 2:02 pm whereas the employees have been drilling holes within the tower’s pillars within the strategy of dismantling the Unit 5 thermal boiler. At the moment, a part of the western help construction collapsed, inflicting your complete boiler tower to fall northwestward. Staff who had been on the tower working to demolish it fell as effectively, and have been buried underneath the construction.
The boiler tower was a metal construction about 60 meters tall that heated bunker gasoline to generate steam for electrical energy manufacturing. Staff have been slicing the tower’s metal framework at a peak of 25 meters to facilitate its demolition.
Models 1 to three had already been dismantled, and demolition work on the boiler towers and chimneys for Models 4 to six was underway concurrently. The contractor had accomplished pillar-drilling work on Unit 4, with demolition scheduled for Nov. 16 after the identical course of on Models 5 and 6 was accomplished.
9 staff on the web site have been buried when the tower fell. Thus far, two folks, together with a person in his 60s, have made it out alive. The 2 who have been rescued 21 minutes after the accident suffered accidents to their necks, waists, and chests, however are reported to be acutely aware and respiratory usually.
Firefighters later pulled two folks out of the rubble who have been later pronounced useless. One other had been pronounced useless whereas nonetheless trapped.
At round 2:02 pm on Nov. 6, a boiler tower at a thermal energy plant in Ulsan collapsed. (Yonhap; courtesy of a reader)
Rescue operations proceed on the web site utilizing a 700-ton crane and two 500-ton cranes, whereas efforts are underway to find out the precise variety of buried victims. All recognized victims are staff of a subcontractor: one everlasting workers member and eight contract staff.
Instantly after the accident, Minister of the Inside and Security Yoon Ho-jung referred to as for the Ministry of Local weather, Power, and Atmosphere, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Nationwide Hearth Company, the Nationwide Police Company, Ulsan Metropolis, Ulsan Nam District, and different related companies to “mobilize all obtainable personnel and gear to focus efforts on rescue.” He additionally requested that the Ministry of Labor activate an accident response headquarters and that the town of Ulsan launch a regional catastrophe security countermeasure headquarters.
Presently, 5 folks stay buried within the rubble. Three have been positioned; one was confirmed to have died, whereas the remaining two are presumed useless. Firefighting authorities are centered on finding the remaining two lacking victims.
At round 4:53 am on Friday, it was confirmed {that a} 44-year-old employee surnamed Kim had died on the scene. Two others are presumed to be useless underneath the rubble.
Two different staff, a 61-year-old surnamed Lee and a 49-year-old surnamed Jeon, have been unresponsive on the time of rescue and have been later pronounced useless.
The seek for the remaining victims stays tough. Hearth authorities are utilizing rescue canines and detection gear resembling acoustic detectors, thermal imaging cameras, and endoscopes to find the lacking.
By Jang Soo-kyung, workers reporter; Joo Seong-mi, workers reporter
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