Land minister visits Ulsan plant collapse site, urges swift rescue efforts

A boiler tower at a thermal power plant, operated by Korea East-West Power Co., collapsed in the southeastern city of Ulsan, Thursday. Yonhap

Land Minister Kim Yun-duk has visited the site of a boiler tower collapse at a thermal power plant in Ulsan, urging rescuers to make all-out efforts to save workers trapped under the debris, his office said Friday.

The boiler tower collapsed Thursday at a power plant of the Ulsan branch of Korea East-West Power Co., a state-run utility firm. One worker was killed and another was feared dead among the seven still trapped.

Kim arrived at the site at around 11 p.m. Thursday to inspect ongoing rescue operations, according to the land ministry.

"The government will provide full support to ensure the victims are rescued as quickly as possible," Kim said, calling on responders to do their utmost in the recovery and rescue work.

Kim added the ministry will cooperate with relevant agencies in investigating the cause of the accident and preventing similar incidents in the future.