An explosion and fire occurred at a comprehensive liquid cargo terminal in Ulju-gun, Ulsan, resulting in 2 casualties.
The Ulsan Fire Headquarters announced that at around 11:15 a.m. on the 10th, a large fire broke out along with an explosion at a fuel storage tank of United Terminal Korea (UTK) in Onsan-eup, Ulju-gun.
As a result of this explosion accident, among two cargo inspectors in their 30s who were working, one died and the other was seriously injured.
On the morning of the 10th, a fuel storage tank exploded at United Terminal Korea in Onsan-eup, Ulsan, sending flames and black smoke billowing into the sky. Photo by Yonhap News
The police and fire authorities estimate that the explosion occurred due to a spark during the sampling work by the cargo inspectors at the liquid cargo storage tank inside UTK. Sampling work is a procedure to check the loading amount of cargo requested by the shipper.
According to the fire authorities, the tank on fire is 19.7 meters high with a total capacity of 2400 kL, and it is known to store about 1600 kL of petroleum products. After the fire, thick black smoke and bright red flames rose as the area around the tank burned.
The fire authorities initially issued a Level 1 response but upgraded it to Level 2, deploying 40 pieces of equipment and 93 firefighters. They managed to control the major flames around 1:30 p.m., about two hours after the fire started. After successfully extinguishing the initial fire, the authorities have currently lowered the response level back to Level 1.
The comprehensive liquid cargo terminal UTK, where the fire occurred, is responsible for handling, receiving, storing, and shipping liquid cargo.
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