Second explosion in nine weeks in Yeosu kills four

Officials look at the site of an explosion at the Yeosu Industrical Complex in Yeosu, South Jeolla on Friday. Four workers died and four others were injured. [YONHAP]

An explosion at a petrochemical plant in Yeosu, South Jeolla on Friday killed four workers and injured four more, according to the local fire department.

It was the second lethal petrochemical explosion at the Yeosu Industrial Complex in nine weeks.

The explosion happened at 9:26 a.m. at a naphtha cracker owned by Yeochun NCC in the Yeosu Industrial Complex. The fire department is investigating the exact cause of the accident.

Workers said the blast happened during a test run of a heat exchange system after it was cleaned. The explosion did not lead to a fire.

Yeochun NCC, established by Hanwha Solutions and DL Chemical in 1999, produce basic petrochemical materials. The company runs three sites in Yeosu and has more than 900 employees.

In December, an explosion at petrochemical producer Eil Industries at the Yeosu complex killed three.

BY KIM MIN-WOOK, KIM JUN-HEE [kjdnational@joongang.co.kr]