Ulsan: Three workers were presumed dead after being pulled out from under a collapsed boiler tower at a thermal power plant in the southeastern city of Ulsan, firefighting officials reported. The tragic incident occurred at a power plant operated by the Ulsan branch of Korea East-West Power Co., a state-run utility company.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the three workers were part of a group of seven trapped after the boiler tower collapsed. Initially, nine workers were reported trapped, but two were rescued shortly after the incident. The deceased, a 44-year-old worker, was pronounced dead around 5 a.m. after experiencing cardiac arrest during the rescue effort. Kim Jeong-sik, an official at the Ulsan Nambu fire station, explained that despite efforts to save the worker, including administering painkillers and measures to keep him warm, he eventually passed away. Rescue efforts were complicated by the difficult conditions, with 30 meters of steel and other debris obstructing access to the trapped workers.

Firefighters are continuing their rescue operations, with plans to expedite efforts once daylight improves visibility. The collapsed tower, which stood 60 meters tall, was reportedly in the process of being dismantled using explosives. All individuals trapped were presumed to be employees of a subcontractor working at the site.