On the 6th afternoon, a fire caused by a liquefied natural gas (LNG) explosion broke out at a cement column manufacturing plant in Jinju, South Gyeongsang, leaving 11 plant workers seriously or slightly injured.
According to the South Gyeongsang Fire Headquarters, the fire occurred at about 3:33 p.m. that day at a plant in Jinseong-myeon, Jinju. The initial explosion left one worker in his 30s seriously injured and 10 slightly injured. Fortunately, none of the injuries are life-threatening, and dozens of people who were in the plant evacuated on their own.
Responding to a report that "gas exploded at the plant," the fire authorities deployed 41 pieces of equipment and 163 personnel, bringing the blaze under control in about two hours by around 5:49 p.m.
Due to the force of the blast, the flames spread to a nearby low mountain at about 3:56 p.m., and the forestry authorities mobilized 146 personnel, seven helicopters and 38 vehicles, extinguishing the main fire in about an hour.
Police suspect that while heat was being applied to a cement curing machine at the time, a lid blew off due to internal pressure, struck a nearby LNG tank, and led to an explosion.
Police and fire authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire and explosion and the extent of property damage.