Fatal Power Plant Tower Collapse in South Korea: 3 Dead, 5 Trapped During Demolition Work

People are seen walking near a collapsed large structure where multiple individuals are believed to be trapped beneath debris.

A tower measuring 60 meters (196 feet) collapsed during demolition operations at a decommissioned thermal power facility in Ulsan, South Korea, resulting in three fatalities and at least two others presumed dead, according to officials on Friday.

Five individuals remain entrapped under the rubble, including two whom authorities have not yet been able to locate.

Nine workers were present at the location when the boiler tower collapsed Thursday afternoon. Emergency responders successfully extracted two individuals shortly after arriving, but another worker who was rescued later was declared dead at a hospital early Friday.

Later, rescue teams recovered another worker who was pronounced deceased, and a medical professional at the scene confirmed the death of another individual among three people identified in the debris. Fire department officials believe the remaining two trapped workers have also perished, according to Kim Jeong-shik, an official from Ulsan's fire department.

The search operation was temporarily suspended Friday morning due to safety concerns regarding unstable debris. Officials delayed planned stabilization work before resuming search efforts after detecting additional workers.

Over 340 rescue personnel and numerous vehicles were deployed to the site for search and rescue operations, along with specialized equipment including search dogs, thermal imaging cameras, endoscopes, and other detection devices, Kim reported.

"The rescue location is currently covered with substantial amounts of asbestos and glass fibers... and the space is extremely confined, requiring rescue workers to clear debris manually to conduct rescue operations," Kim explained during a briefing.

Following the incident, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung directed officials to deploy all available personnel and equipment for the rescue effort while prioritizing the safety of rescue workers operating amidst the rubble.

The power plant had been decommissioned in 2021 after 40 years of operation. Officials indicated that the collapsed boiler tower—one of three at the facility—had been structurally compromised as it was being prepared for demolition.