The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCHQ) said on the 8th that it decided to dismantle Units 4 and 6 around the Ulsan thermal power plant boiler tower Unit 5 collapse site, where the risk of additional collapse had been raised.
CDSCHQ, headed by Minister Kim Young-hoon of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) and Minister Kim Seong-hwan of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, made the decision at a meeting at 11 p.m. on the previous day attended by representatives of victims' families. The dismantling is expected on the 11th. Preparatory work needed for blasting Units 4 and 6 has already begun.
Units 4 and 6, next to the collapsed Unit 5, are mostly in a weakened state for building demolition. Structures have been shaking with small vibrations and wind, and concerns about additional collapse have continued to be raised.
Rescue operations have also been hindered by Units 4 and 6, and fire authorities have discussed various options, including demolition and reinforcement, together with experts.
If these are dismantled, the pace of rescue is expected to speed up. Of the nine workers at the time of the accident, the burial locations of two have not yet been identified. Of the remaining seven, five are dead or presumed dead, and two are said to be not in life-threatening condition.