Accident Likely Occurred While Trying to Rescue Worker Who Entered Manhole
Five people were exposed to toxic gas at a paper mill in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, resulting in two fatalities.
According to the North Jeolla Provincial Fire Department and the Jeonju Deokjin Police Station, at approximately 9:44 a.m. on May 4, a report was received stating that "a worker fell into a manhole and lost consciousness due to gas poisoning" at a paper mill in Palbok-dong, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju.
A man in his 40s, referred to as A, who was inside the manhole, was rescued in a semi-conscious state and transported to the hospital. However, two others, including another man in his 40s, referred to as B, were found collapsed near the entrance of the manhole and were taken to the hospital in cardiac arrest by firefighters, but ultimately died. Two others, including a man in his 50s, referred to as C, who were on a nearby ladder, complained of dizziness and were also transported to the hospital.
Authorities determined that the workers had come to work that day to clean the facility. At the time, it is believed that one worker entered the three-meter-deep manhole, which was filled with paper sludge and other debris, alone.
Officials believe that the accident occurred when colleagues, searching for the missing worker, discovered him inside the manhole and entered in an attempt to rescue him.
Police explained that all five individuals were employees of the paper company and were Korean nationals. A police official stated, "The manhole was not scheduled for cleaning, and even the colleagues do not know why he entered it," adding, "We believe the accident was caused by suffocation from toxic gas, and we are investigating the circumstances by questioning those present at the site."
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