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1 killed, 4 injured in explosion at S. Korean chemical factory

Xinhua, October 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

One person was killed and four others injured in an explosion at a South Korean chemical factory in the southern inland city of Gumi, local media reported on Wednesday.

Police and fire department were quoted as saying that a fire broke out at a factory of Star Chemical following an explosion at around 9:21 a.m. local time (0021 GMT).

The plant is located in the Gumi industrial complex in North Gyeongsang province.

The fire was extinguished about 40 minutes after it broke out thanks to some 20 fire trucks and 140 personnel that were dispatched to the scene.

Among five workers at the scene, one sustained a heavy injury and was taken to a nearby hospital, but he finally passed away while being treated. Four others suffered minor injuries.

The explosion happened while workers were demolishing raw material tanks at the factory set to be shut down. Initial indications suggested that the fire was caused by an oxygen tank's explosion.

Star Chemical has reportedly been out of business since January 2013 to get procedure for liquidation.

Police and fire department are still investigating the cause of the accident. Enditem