Powerful explosion at STX shipyard; four killed

A police van moves into STX Offshore and Shipbuilding’s shipyard in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Sunday. Four workers were killed in a powerful explosion there on Sunday. / Yonhap

By Chyung Eun-ju, Park Si-soo

Four people were killed in a powerful explosion at a shipyard in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Sunday.

They were among eight painters working inside a 74,000-ton oil tanker being built at STX Offshore and Shipbuilding’s shipyard. The remaining four painters ware safe.

The explosion happened at 11:37 a.m. when the workers in their 30s to 50s were painting inside a 12-meter-deep oil tanker. Authorities are looking into the cause of the explosion.

The vessel is reportedly scheduled to be delivered to a Greek shipping company in October.

TO BE UPDATED

Rescue workers inspect the explosion site of an oil tanker under construction at STX Offshore and Shipbuilding’s shipyard in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Sunday. / Courtesy of Changwon Fire Service Headquarters