Ulsan Chemical Plant Fire Forces 7,000 Nearby Workers to Evacuate
A fire believed to have started in a toluene storage tank at a chemical manufacturer in Ulsan prompted a large emergency response and the evacuation of about 7,000 workers from a nearby S-OIL construction site. No casualties had been reported.
A fire at a chemical manufacturing company in Ulsan forced about 7,000 workers at a nearby industrial project to evacuate on Wednesday, as emergency crews worked to contain the blaze and authorities checked for possible missing people.
The fire began at 9:41 a.m. at the company’s site in Ulju County, part of the southeastern industrial city. The Ulsan Fire Headquarters mobilized approximately 200 personnel and three helicopters in response. Thick black smoke rose above the facility and spread across the surrounding industrial area.
All 16 workers who had been at the affected site evacuated, and no casualties had been reported at the time of the initial official update. Authorities said they were continuing to assess the situation while firefighting operations remained underway.
Investigators believe the blaze may have started in an outdoor storage tank holding about 8,000 liters of toluene. Toluene is a flammable liquid commonly used in chemical manufacturing, making control of the fire and protection of nearby facilities an urgent concern. Officials had not yet announced a definitive cause. Police and fire authorities planned to investigate after the immediate emergency was brought under control.
Smoke from the fire affected operations at S-OIL’s nearby Shaheen petrochemical project. The refiner partially suspended work at the construction site and moved roughly 7,000 workers to safer locations. The evacuation represented the largest immediate disruption linked to the blaze, even though the fire itself was reported at a separate manufacturing company.
The Shaheen project is a major petrochemical development under construction in Ulsan, where refineries, chemical producers and related industrial facilities are concentrated. The close proximity of large worksites meant smoke and concerns about hazardous materials had consequences beyond the plant where the fire began.
Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung instructed authorities to use all available resources to extinguish the blaze and determine whether anyone remained unaccounted for. The order underscored the need to prevent the fire from threatening workers or spreading through the surrounding industrial complex.
Officials had not provided a timeline for fully extinguishing the fire or resuming the suspended work. The casualty count, evacuation status and cause therefore remained subject to further updates from local fire and police agencies.