CO2 accidentally released at Bokjeong Station in Seoul; 3 taken to hospital
Police cordon off the CO2 storeroom of Bokjeong Station of Subway Line 8 in southern Seoul, Dec. 15. Yonhap
An automatic fire extinguisher accidentally released carbon dioxide (CO2) at Bokjeong Station in southern Seoul on Friday, leading to five people being taken to the hospital for dizziness.
The fire extinguishing equipment at the station's electric power substation was suddenly activated and released CO2 at 9:28 a.m., according to Seoul Metro, which operates most of the city's subway networks.
Five people who were working at the station complained of dizziness and were moved to the hospital for treatment. No damage was reported among passengers.
Fire authorities later attributed the accident to a breakage in the wiring of the extinguisher's sensor during construction work to install a barrier wall inside the station's electric room on the second basement level.
Subway trains passed the station without stopping for an hour following the accident, Seoul Metro said. (Yonhap)