Large fire at Ulsan chemical plant forces thousands to evacuate
A blaze erupted at a chemical manufacturing site in Ulsan, prompting the evacuation of about 7,000 nearby workers with no injuries reported.
At 9:41 a.m. on Wednesday, a fire broke out at a chemical manufacturing facility in Ulsan, likely igniting an outdoor tank containing 8,000 liters of the flammable solvent toluene. The Ulsan Fire Headquarters dispatched roughly 200 responders and three helicopters to fight the blaze. Sixteen workers at the plant were evacuated without any reported casualties.
The smoke forced the nearby Shaheen petrochemical project, operated by S-OIL, to partially suspend operations, causing about 7,000 workers to relocate to safe zones. Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung ordered all available resources to be used to extinguish the fire and to search for any missing persons. Authorities plan to investigate the precise cause of the incident.
Why it matters
The incident highlights industrial safety risks and disrupts a major petrochemical hub, affecting thousands of workers.
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