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🇰🇷 South Korea /Disasters & Emergencies

Workers cleaning tank during explosion at Hanwha Aerospace, testimony suggests

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Investigators have obtained testimony suggesting workers were cleaning a tank inside a washing machine when an explosion occurred at the Hanwha Aerospace facility in Daejeon.
  • The blast on June 1 killed five workers and injured two others.
  • Police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor are analyzing evidence to determine the cause, with the facility manager and CEO facing charges.

An explosion at the Hanwha Aerospace facility in Daejeon, which killed five workers and injured two, may have occurred while employees were cleaning a tank inside a washing machine, according to testimony obtained by investigators. The blast happened on June 1 at the company's Daejeon plant.

"At the time of the explosion, there was testimony that we were cleaning the tank inside the washing machine where sludge accumulates," said Ryu Geun-sil, head of the Daejeon Police Agency's Wide-Area Crime Investigation Unit, during a joint press briefing with the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Police believe the explosion could have been triggered by residual waste propellant in the tank, which is a rectangular metal structure, as workers used a high-pressure washing machine to clean propellant off tools.

At the time of the explosion, there was testimony that we were cleaning the tank inside the washing machine where sludge accumulates.

— Ryu Geun-silHead of the Daejeon Police Agency's Wide-Area Crime Investigation Unit, describing potential circumstances leading to the blast.

However, Yeon Hyun-seok, head of the Serious Accident Investigation Division at the Daejeon Regional Employment and Labor Office, cautioned that it is too early to determine the exact cause. "Everything is burned in the explosion, so we need further investigation to determine what was the ignition source and what was the ignition point," he said. Police and labor authorities have analyzed over 5,700 items of evidence collected from three on-site investigations and have requested detailed analysis of 17 items from the National Forensic Service.

Authorities have charged Hanwha Aerospace Daejeon plant manager Kang Jae-woong with professional negligence causing death and injury, and Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il with violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act. The facility itself is also under investigation for violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Everything is burned in the explosion, so we need further investigation to determine what was the ignition source and what was the ignition point.

— Yeon Hyun-seokHead of the Serious Accident Investigation Division at the Daejeon Regional Employment and Labor Office, emphasizing the need for further investigation into the cause.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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