7 Feared Trapped After Power Plant Structure Collapses in South Korea

At least seven people are feared trapped after a structural collapse at a power plant facility on South Korea’s east coast on Thursday.

The incident occurred around 2 p.m. (0500 GMT) at the Ulsan Power headquarters operated by Korea East-West Power in Ulsan, a southeastern industrial city. Authorities said part of the facility, including a 60-metre-high boiler tower, collapsed while work was being carried out on the site.

The National Fire Agency confirmed that two individuals had been rescued from the rubble, while at least seven others remain missing and are believed to be trapped beneath the debris. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with emergency responders using heavy equipment to clear the collapsed structure.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has directed government agencies to deploy all available resources to support the rescue effort, stressing that saving lives must be the “top priority.” Residents living nearby were also evacuated as a precaution.

Local media reports suggest the collapse happened during preparations to dismantle the thermal power plant, which had already been decommissioned. Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the incident.