SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - A fire broke out at a chemical factory in Ulsan on Wednesday, prompting the evacuation of about 7,000 workers from a nearby construction site.
According to fire authorities, emergency rescue workers were rushed to the scene after the fire was reported at around 9:40 a.m. at a chemical products manufacturer in Ulju in the southeastern industrial city.
They are still working to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby facilities, with about 200 personnel, three helicopters and a high-capacity water cannon vehicle deployed to the scene.
No casualties have been reported, and all workers at the factory are said to have evacuated safely.
Firefighters said the blaze started at an outdoor storage tank containing 8,000 liters of toluene, a hazardous substance, and they were working to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby tanks containing other chemicals.
The fire also prompted a temporary halt to work at a nearby construction site for refiner S-Oil's massive Shaheen project to build a petrochemical facility in the industrial complex, where about 7,000 workers were evacuated.
Fire authorities said they would investigate the cause of the fire after it was fully extinguished. According to initial reports, a witness heard a sound similar to an explosion and saw sparks near pipes connected to the storage tank.
Interior and Safety Minister Yun Ho-jung ordered officials to mobilize all available personnel and equipment to put out the fire, warning that the concentration of factories and large amounts of flammable materials in the area could cause the blaze to spread quickly.
According to fire authorities, emergency rescue workers were rushed to the scene after the fire was reported at around 9:40 a.m. at a chemical products manufacturer in Ulju in the southeastern industrial city.
They are still working to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby facilities, with about 200 personnel, three helicopters and a high-capacity water cannon vehicle deployed to the scene.
No casualties have been reported, and all workers at the factory are said to have evacuated safely.
Firefighters said the blaze started at an outdoor storage tank containing 8,000 liters of toluene, a hazardous substance, and they were working to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby tanks containing other chemicals.
The fire also prompted a temporary halt to work at a nearby construction site for refiner S-Oil's massive Shaheen project to build a petrochemical facility in the industrial complex, where about 7,000 workers were evacuated.
Fire authorities said they would investigate the cause of the fire after it was fully extinguished. According to initial reports, a witness heard a sound similar to an explosion and saw sparks near pipes connected to the storage tank.
Interior and Safety Minister Yun Ho-jung ordered officials to mobilize all available personnel and equipment to put out the fire, warning that the concentration of factories and large amounts of flammable materials in the area could cause the blaze to spread quickly.
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