At least 28 people were injured and 16 were detained in a three-day clash between police and protestors fighting over the construction of 52 electricity towers in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province.

The state-run Korea Electric Power Corporation has been pushing ahead with the construction since Wednesday, at the first five of the planned construction sites in Danjang-myeon, Sanoe-myeon, Sangdong-myeon and Bubuk-myeon.

Three were hurt on Friday while power corporation officials tried to break through a chain tied to the elders’ necks.

About 10 were treated after scuffles with police and three were sent to hospital after going on a hunger strike and losing consciousness. Injuries are continuing to increase in number and severity, reports said.

Increasing numbers of people involved in the protests are being arrested on charges of obstructing police. Arrest warrants may be sought for two or three people, police said.

The number of riot police dispatched to control the crowd was halved from 2,000 in the first day, despite growing support and numbers of protesters.

According to reports, some 100 elderly residents are now being supported by social activists and college students, with two iconic “Buses of Hope” due to arrive early Saturday morning.

KEPCO and the government restarted construction on the grounds that the project urgently needed to be finished to ensure a sufficient supply of electricity from two nuclear power plants in Ulsan to other regions in time for the peak demand period in summer.

By Suk Gee-hyun (monicasuk@heraldcorp.com)