Search efforts for two workers missing from a boiler tower collapse at a thermal power plant in Ulsan continued on Saturday. The incident, which killed three and left two presumed dead, prompted plans to dismantle nearby units to speed up the operation.
A 60-meter-tall boiler tower at the Ulsan branch of state-run Korea East-West Power Co. collapsed on Thursday, killing three workers and leaving two missing and presumed dead. The structure, suspended from operation in 2021 after 40 years of use, was being demolished when subcontractor workers were cutting steel supports to weaken it for blasting.
Rescue teams have been navigating through about 30 meters of twisted steel and debris at the collapse site, with around 40 rescuers deploying drones and equipment overnight. On the third day of operations Saturday, brief morning rain hampered efforts. Kim Jeon-sik, an official from the Ulsan Southern Fire Station, said in a briefing, "Access is very difficult because there are steel beams inside the structure." He added, "There are limits (to the search operation) with the current equipment."
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok visited the site to inspect the rescue efforts before meeting with the bereaved families of the deceased workers. The central disaster and safety response headquarters decided to dismantle adjacent Unit 4 and Unit 6 power plants due to concerns over additional collapses, as both had been weakened for demolition. Preparatory blasting work began Friday night, with the demolition expected early next week, likely on Tuesday, according to a city official.
The headquarters anticipates faster rescue operations once the demolition is complete. The Ulsan District Prosecutors Office has formed an investigation team with police and the labor ministry to determine the cause, hold those responsible, and support victims' families. A key question in the probe will be whether safety measures, such as supporting the tower with wires, were in place.