South Korea Ulsan power plant structure collapse
A large structural collapse occurred on Thursday at a thermal power plant in the southeastern South Korean city of Ulsan, trapping several workers under debris. The incident took place around 2:07 p.m. at the facility of Korea East‑West Power Co. in Nam-gu district, where a 60-metre-high boiler tower was being dismantled as part of a demolition process.
According to the National Fire Agency, two people were rescued from the rubble and were in stable condition. However, up to seven other workers remain trapped beneath the collapsed structure while rescue teams continue their efforts.
Officials said that the tower collapse happened during preparatory demolition cuts, which likely caused a shift in the centre of gravity, triggering the failure. The structure had been out of service since 2021 and was scheduled for phased dismantling.
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok immediately ordered all relevant ministries and agencies to mobilise every available resource and equipment to prioritise rescuing the trapped workers and preventing secondary accidents.
As of this writing, investigations are underway into the cause of the collapse and whether proper demolition protocols were followed under the country’s safety laws governing serious industrial accidents.
