South Korea power plant collapse: At least seven feared to be trapped under rubble; rescue operations under way

At least seven people were trapped after a structure collapsed at a power plant on South Korea’s east coast, the National Fire Agency said Thursday.

The incident occurred around 2 pm (local time) at Korea East-West Power ’s headquarters in the southeastern city of Ulsan, when a large section of the facility gave way, authorities said, as cited by AFP.

The collapsed generator was an aging facility that had been in operation for more than 30 years and reportedly stopped functioning several years ago.

The accident reportedly happened while preparations were underway to demolish the out-of-service thermal power plant.

The generator included components such as turbines and boilers, and reports indicate that the boiler structure, which heats water to produce electricity, was the part that collapsed, as per Chosun Daily.

The National Fire Agency reported that two people have been rescued, while at least seven others are still trapped and unaccounted for.

Search and rescue efforts are ongoing.

South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok directed all ministries to "mobilise all available personnel and equipment, placing top priority on rescuing those trapped."

The prime minister's office added that residents in the area were also being evacuated.

Fire authorities have dispatched 61 personnel and 19 pieces of equipment to conduct rescue operations, continuing to search for anyone else who may be trapped.