Pohang: Three people fainted after inhaling what appeared to be toxic gas at POSCO's Pohang Steelworks on Thursday, officials said. The accident took place around 1:30 p.m. at the steelworks in Pohang, located 262 kilometers southeast of Seoul, as two contracted cleaners and a POSCO employee were engaged in the task of removing sludge.

According to Yonhap News Agency, all three individuals were transported to hospitals, including two who were discovered in cardiac arrest. Firefighting authorities have indicated that carbon monoxide poisoning might be a potential cause of the incident.

This accident follows closely on the heels of another incident just two weeks ago at the same facility, where one worker lost their life and three others sustained burns due to exposure to chemical substances from damaged pipes.