At a labor site at the Sihwa Industrial Complex in Ansan, two workers were killed by shrapnel from an explosion. They were welding in a dangerous goods tank. The government is checking to see if it is subject to the Serious Accident Punishment Act.
This is reporter Baek Hee-yeon.
[기자]
All windows in the building were shattered.
Glass shards flew over the factory wall to the roadside.
Digestive foam is bubbling on the floor.
Today (29th) around 10:20 a.m., a roar sounded at a waste disposal company in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do.
A hazardous material tank outside the building exploded during welding work.
[목격자 : 로켓, 미사일 떨어지듯이 ‘쾅’ 하면서 건물이 흔들렸어요. 깜짝 놀랐어요. 폭발 소리는 진짜 컸어요.]
A 59-year-old man and a 61-year-old man B were killed at the scene after being struck by debris from the explosion.
Both were affiliated with an outsourced company and had an accident while welding dangerous goods tank pipes.
[업체 관계자 : 폐유기용제(폐기물) 탱크가 폭발해서… 탱크 배관 교체하는 공사 도중에 불꽃이 튀어서 탱크가 폭발했어요.]
Following the explosion, a fire broke out in the tank containing petroleum, but the fire brigade that received the report and dispatched it extinguished it in about 10 minutes.
It is known that the company that had the accident had more than 90 employees, exceeding 50 workers, which is the standard for the application of the Serious Accident Punishment Act.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor has issued an order to stop work at the workplace and is reviewing the application of the Serious Accident Punishment Act.
Police and fire departments believe that the spark from welding met oil vapor and caused an explosion, and they are investigating the exact cause of the accident.
(Screen credit: Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters)
(VJ: Jihoon Jang)
