Three workers killed in wind turbine fire in Yeongdeok

A helicopter conducts firefighting operations after a fire broke out at a wind turbine at the Changpo Wind Farm in Yeongdeok County North Gyeongsang Province March 23 Yonhap — A helicopter conducts firefighting operations after a fire broke out at a wind turbine at the Changpo Wind Farm in Yeongdeok County, North Gyeongsang Province, March 23. Yonhap

SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - Three workers in their 40s and 50s died in a fire at a wind turbine in the eastern coastal county of Yeongdeok on Monday while conducting repairs and inspections. A fire broke out during the staged demolition process.

According to Yeongdeok County authorities, all 24 wind turbines installed at the Changpo Wind Farm and nearby areas were installed in 2005 and have exceeded their 20-year design life. The workers who died in the fire were inspecting the bending condition and cracks of the No. 19 wind turbine blade when the accident occurred.

A wind turbine is charred black at the Changpo Wind Farm in Yeongdeok County North Gyeongsang Province March 24 Yonhap — A wind turbine is charred black at the Changpo Wind Farm in Yeongdeok County, North Gyeongsang Province, March 24. Yonhap

All wind turbines at the Changpo Wind Farm have stopped operating since the fire. Fire authorities said access was difficult because the fire occurred 80 meters high on the turbine with a broken blade hanging. Two of three blades fell to the ground.