A major emergency response is underway in South Korea after a devastating structural collapse at a power plant construction site left seven workers trapped beneath rubble.
The incident occurred at the Taean Thermal Power Plant complex in Gyeongju, where a section of the building under construction suddenly gave way during afternoon operations. Emergency services rushed to the scene following multiple distress calls from concerned coworkers.
Race Against Time
Rescue teams are working frantically against the clock to reach the trapped individuals. Heavy machinery and specialized equipment have been deployed to carefully remove debris while ensuring the safety of both rescuers and potential survivors.
"We are using every available resource to locate and extract the workers," stated a fire department official at the scene. "The situation is extremely delicate due to the unstable nature of the collapsed structure."
Emergency Response Mobilized
The scale of the rescue operation is massive, with multiple agencies coordinating efforts. Medical teams are standing by with field hospitals prepared to provide immediate treatment to anyone extracted from the wreckage.
Local hospitals in the Gyeongju area have been placed on high alert, with trauma specialists ready to receive casualties. Family members of the missing workers have gathered near the site, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.
Investigation Launched
Authorities have already begun preliminary investigations into what caused the structural failure. Early reports suggest the collapse occurred during concrete pouring operations, but the exact cause remains undetermined.
South Korea has strict industrial safety regulations, and this incident is likely to prompt renewed scrutiny of construction safety protocols across the country's massive infrastructure projects.
The power plant expansion was part of South Korea's ongoing energy infrastructure development, with hundreds of workers typically on site during peak construction periods.
