A Tower Falls: The Ulsan Power Plant Incident

Tragic Incident at Old Power Plant

In Ulsan, South Korea, a tall tower at an old power plant collapsed during demolition on a Thursday afternoon. The incident resulted in one fatality and left six others trapped under the wreckage.

Rescue Efforts and Aftermath

• Initial Rescue: One person was located but could not be extracted. Two others were saved immediately after the collapse.
• Second Fatality: A worker who was rescued later died in the hospital early Friday morning.
• Suspended Search: Due to unsafe rubble conditions, the search was halted on Friday morning and will resume once the area is stabilized.
• Rescue Operations: Teams used dogs, thermal cameras, and specialized tools to locate survivors.

Response and Resources

• Rescue Teams: Over 340 rescuers and 90 vehicles were deployed.
• Government Involvement: The South Korean president ordered officials to utilize all available resources while ensuring rescuer safety.

Background of the Incident

• Power Plant Closure: The plant shut down in 2021 after 40 years of operation.
• Demolition Preparations: The collapsed tower was one of three on-site and was weakened as part of demolition preparations.

Questions Raised

• Safety Concerns: The incident has sparked questions about demolition safety protocols.
• Preventability: Investigations will determine if the collapse could have been prevented.