In Ulsan, South Korea, a tragic incident has claimed at least three lives and left two workers missing after a 60-metre boiler tower collapsed during demolition operations at a decommissioned thermal power plant. The collapse occurred amid efforts to dismantle the plant’s infrastructure and has triggered a large-scale emergency response to locate and rescue victims under hazardous conditions.
Demolition goes wrong at retired plant
The incident occurred when a 60-metre (approximately 196-foot) boiler tower — one of three towers on the site — suddenly gave way while demolition teams were preparing to bring down the structure. At the time of collapse, nine workers were on site; two were rescued early, but three were later confirmed dead and two remain unaccounted for.
Challenging rescue under hazardous conditions
More than 340 rescue personnel, accompanied by dogs, thermal imaging cameras, and endoscopic equipment, were dispatched to the scene. Rescue operations were temporarily suspended due to concerns over unstable debris and the presence of hazardous materials including asbestos and glass-fiber insulation, which forced manual clearing of rubble in cramped spaces.
Plant background and safety oversight
The thermal power plant in Ulsan was officially decommissioned in 2021 after four decades of operation. Officials say the boiler tower had been weakened as it was being readied for demolition, raising questions about structural safety protocols and whether preventive measures were sufficient for such high-risk dismantling activities.
