No fewer than seven people were trapped on Thursday, November 6, after a major structure collapsed at a power plant on South Korea’s east coast, according to the National Fire Agency.

The incident occurred around 2 p.m. (0500 GMT) at Korea East-West Power’s Ulsan Power headquarters in the southeastern city of Ulsan. Authorities said a large section of the facility, including a 60-metre-high boiler tower, gave way while work was underway.

The National Fire Agency confirmed that two people had been rescued, while at least seven others remain unaccounted for and are believed to be trapped under the debris. Search and rescue operations were ongoing as emergency crews worked through the rubble.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok ordered all government ministries to “mobilise all available personnel and equipment, placing top priority on rescuing those trapped.” Residents in the surrounding area were also being evacuated as a precaution, his office said.

Local reports indicated that the collapse occurred during preparations to demolish the thermal power plant, which had already been taken out of service.