Silo demolition accident at Jeju feed factory cuts power to hundreds of households
In short
A structure came down during the demolition of a silo at an animal feed factory in Hallim-eup, Jeju City, at around 17:52 on 8 October after a wire rope linking it to a crane snapped, cutting high-voltage power lines and telecommunications lines. KEPCO figures cited by the outlets put the outage at 581 or 545 households, falling to 103 households by 19:07. A utility pole was broken and two vehicles were damaged; no casualties were reported.
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A wire rope connecting a crane to a structure being demolished snapped at around 17:52 on 8 October during the removal of a silo at an animal feed factory in Hallim-eup, Jeju City, according to fire authorities cited by Newsis, Yonhap and Seoul Shinmun. Yonhap and Seoul Shinmun named the site as the Isidol feed factory (이시돌사료공장). Newsis and Seoul Shinmun reported that the structure toppled, while Yonhap reported that it fell; Yonhap said the report received was that a crane had fallen over. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The structure cut nearby high-voltage power lines and telecommunications lines, broke a utility pole and damaged two vehicles. Newsis and Seoul Shinmun reported that one car was completely crushed under the structure and the other had its windshield and bonnet damaged, and that a nearby clean house (클린하우스) was also damaged. Newsis said no casualties had been confirmed so far, and Seoul Shinmun reported there were none. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The outlets gave different figures for the power cut. Newsis reported that the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) identified at about 18:03 that 581 households around the site had lost power. Seoul Shinmun also reported 581 households but said KEPCO identified this at about 18:45. Yonhap, citing KEPCO, reported that 545 households lost power at about 17:52. Yonhap and Seoul Shinmun reported that the number fell to 103 households as of 19:07 and that no apartments were in the affected area. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Yonhap reported that KEPCO had been carrying out repairs since 19:58 and expected to finish within two hours. Seoul Shinmun reported that KEPCO put repair crews on site from about 19:00, that 103 households were still without power as of 20:00, and that KEPCO expected to finish within two hours; it added that KT also went to the scene to restore the communication lines. Newsis reported that restoration was expected to take considerable time. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Fire authorities arrived at 17:58 and asked KEPCO to take safety measures to prevent a secondary accident from the severed high-voltage lines, Newsis and Seoul Shinmun reported. Lighting, pump and rescue vehicles were placed at the scene for safety management; Seoul Shinmun said they came from Jeju's Western Fire Station. Seoul Shinmun reported that fire authorities and KEPCO plan to investigate the exact cause and extent of the damage once repairs are complete. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The accident left hundreds of households near the factory without power on the evening of 8 October, and KEPCO expected repairs to take up to two more hours. Fire authorities and KEPCO plan to investigate the exact cause and extent of the damage, Seoul Shinmun reported.
Key facts
- At around 17:52 on 8 October, a wire rope connecting a crane to a structure being demolished snapped during silo demolition at an animal feed factory in Hallim-eup, Jeju City. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Yonhap and Seoul Shinmun named the site as the Isidol feed factory (이시돌사료공장). [ 2 , 3 ]
- The structure cut nearby high-voltage power lines and telecommunications lines, broke a utility pole and damaged two vehicles. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Newsis and Seoul Shinmun reported 581 households lost power; Yonhap reported 545. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The number of households without power fell to 103 as of 19:07, and no apartments were in the affected area. [ 2 , 3 ]
- KEPCO expected to complete repairs within two hours. [ 2 , 3 ]
- No casualties were reported. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A wire rope connecting the crane to the structure snapped during silo demolition at a feed factory in Hallim-eup, Jeju City, at around 17:52 on 8 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- High-voltage power lines and telecommunications lines were cut, one utility pole was broken and two vehicles were damaged. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- One car was completely crushed under the structure and another had its windshield and bonnet damaged. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Fire authorities arrived at 17:58 and asked KEPCO to take safety measures to prevent a secondary accident. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The outage fell to 103 households as of 19:07, with no apartments in the affected area. [ 2 , 3 ]
- KEPCO expected to complete repairs within two hours. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- How many households lost power. Newsis and Seoul Shinmun reported 581 households; Yonhap, citing KEPCO, reported 545.
- When KEPCO identified the outage. Newsis said KEPCO identified it at about 18:03, Seoul Shinmun said about 18:45, and Yonhap said the outage occurred at about 17:52.
- When restoration work began and how long it would take. Yonhap said repairs ran from 19:58 and Seoul Shinmun said crews were deployed from about 19:00, both expecting completion within two hours; Newsis said restoration was expected to take considerable time.
- The exact cause and full extent of the damage. Seoul Shinmun reported fire authorities and KEPCO will investigate after repairs are finished.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The wire rope connecting the crane to the structure snapped during silo demolition and a report was received. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Power cut to 545 households, according to KEPCO as cited by Yonhap. [ 2 ]
- Fire authorities arrived at the scene and asked KEPCO for safety measures. [ 1 , 3 ]
- KEPCO identified that 581 households had lost power, according to Newsis. [ 1 ]
- KEPCO identified that 581 households had lost power, according to Seoul Shinmun. [ 3 ]
- KEPCO repair crews were deployed at the scene, according to Seoul Shinmun. [ 3 ]
- Households without power fell to 103. [ 2 , 3 ]
- KEPCO restoration work under way, according to Yonhap. [ 2 ]
- 103 households remained without power as repairs continued. [ 3 ]