Jeonju: Two workers died and three others were hospitalized after inhaling toxic gas at a paper mill in the southwestern city of Jeonju, authorities said. Authorities reported receiving a call at 9:44 a.m. that a worker had fallen into a manhole at the factory and lost consciousness from gas exposure.

According to Yonhap News Agency, two workers were discovered collapsed near the manhole and were transported to a hospital in cardiac arrest but died. Another man in his 40s, who was inside the manhole, was rescued and taken to a hospital. Two others who were positioned on a nearby ladder complained of dizziness and were also hospitalized.

Authorities believe the accident occurred when one of the workers entered the 3-meter-deep manhole, which was filled with paper sludge, prompting his colleagues to follow in an attempt to rescue him. All five workers were South Korean nationals, according to the police.