Jeonju: Two workers died and three others were hospitalized after inhaling toxic gas at a paper mill in the southwestern city of Jeonju, authorities reported on Sunday. Authorities said they received a call at 9:44 a.m. indicating that a worker had fallen into a manhole at the factory and lost consciousness due to gas exposure.
According to Yonhap News Agency, two workers were found collapsed near the manhole and were transported to a hospital in cardiac arrest but tragically died. Another man in his 40s, who was inside the manhole, was rescued and taken to a hospital. Two other workers who were on a nearby ladder experienced dizziness and were also hospitalized.
Authorities believe the incident occurred when one worker entered the 3-meter-deep manhole filled with paper sludge, prompting his colleagues to follow in an attempt to rescue him. All five workers involved were South Korean nationals, according to the police.
Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who recently announced his presidential bid, extended his condolences to the victims and expressed his "deepest sympathy" to the bereaved families on his newly launched Facebook page.