Hanwha Total under probe for delayed report of oil mist leak
SEOUL, May 20 (Yonhap) -- Hanwha Total Petrochemical is under investigation for its delayed report of a massive oil mist leak at its chemical factory in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, last week, provincial officials said Monday.
The oil mist leak occurred at the company's Daesan petrochemical complex in Seosan, 150 kilometers south of Seoul, at 11:45 a.m. last Friday, causing nearly 327 workers and residents to be treated for dizziness and vomiting.
Instead of immediately reporting the accident to the authorities, however, Hanwha Total contacted the Seosan Fire Station at 12:30 p.m., after engaging in its own fire-fighting efforts, the officials said.

Oil mist leaks from a tank at a chemical factory in Seosan, central South Korea, on May 17, 2019, in this photo provided by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. (Yonhap)
Then the company's report of the accident to Seosan's municipality was made at around 1:30 p.m., they said, adding heads of nearby villages were notified of the oil mist leak afterwards.
Under the Toxic Chemicals Control Act, chemicals accidents are to be reported to the relevant municipality or fire station immediately.
"The province will investigate whether Hanwha Total violated the Toxic Chemicals Control Act in its delayed report of the accident, together with the Ministry of Environment and the Geum River Basin Environmental Office. It will then take an administrative measure after conducting water and air pollution inspections," a provincial official said.
The oil mist leaked quickly from the tank, spreading to nearby neighborhoods and carrying an unpleasant odor, according to the fire service and police.
The leak occurred because oil residue in the tank was gasified when the temperature within the tank rose for an unknown reason.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
(LEAD) S. Korea fully restores bilateral military information-sharing pact with Japan
-
S. Korea, U.S. set for 'largest-ever' live-fire drills to mark alliance's 70th anniv.
-
Major N. Korean websites offline as of Tuesday morning
-
N. Korea fires multiple cruise missiles toward East Sea: source
-
SsangYong Motor reborn as KG Mobility after takeover
-
Yoon puts S. Korea-Japan relations back on track
-
Japan's removal of export curbs on S. Korea to boost supply chain stability, ease biz uncertainties
-
Yoon's summit with Biden to highlight S. Korea's 'pivotal' role in region: U.S. experts
-
(News Focus) Solution to forced labor issue shows Yoon's commitment to improving ties with Japan
-
Seoul's controversial plan for forced labor compensation reflects urgency of security partnership with Tokyo: experts