On the 9th, a gas explosion caused a fire at a coal-fired power plant in Taean, North Chungcheong.
According to fire authorities, at about 2:43 p.m. that day, a report that "flames were shooting up with an explosion sound" was filed to 119 from Taean Power Plant in Wonbuk-myeon, Taean County, South Chungcheong.
Two workers suffered second-degree burns in the accident and were taken to a hospital. Their lives are not in danger, according to initial assessments.
Fire authorities and the internal emergency response center at West Power completed extinguishing the blaze at about 3:20 p.m., roughly 40 minutes after it began. Police and fire authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the fire.
According to Korea Western Power (KOWEPO), which operates Taean Power Plant, the fire broke out during insulation work on a heat exchanger of the "IGCC." IGCC is short for Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle, a facility that gasifies coal at high temperature and pressure to produce synthesis gas, which is then used as fuel for power generation.
A company identified as A, a plant specialist firm, is in charge of IGCC maintenance. However, because the fire did not occur during maintenance work, the exact cause must be determined to establish responsibility.