Smoke billows from a Kumho Tire plant in Gwangju on Saturday (May 17). - Photo: Yonhap
SEOUL: Kumho Tire suspended production at its Gwangju plant on Saturday (May 17) after a massive fire engulfed a major section of the facility, prompting authorities to issue a nationwide firefighting mobilisation order as the blaze continued to spread.
The fire, which started around 7.11am at the factory in Gwangju, some 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, has rapidly spread through plant buildings, with flames reportedly reaching as high as 100 meters, according to fire officials.
By noon, about 70 percent of the western section of the factory, roughly equivalent to five football fields in size, was consumed by the blaze.
The National Fire Agency issued a nationwide fire mobilisation order, allowing firefighting personnel and equipment from neighbouring regions to be deployed to the site.
Kumho Tire, South Korea's second-largest tire maker, said all production has been halted at the plant.
About 400 workers on duty at the time were evacuated, but one male employee in his 20s suffered injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
His injuries are not considered life-threatening.
The fire is suspected to have started from equipment used for heating raw rubber.
Authorities said it may take up to several days to completely extinguish the fire, noting that about 20 tons of raw rubber was stored at the factory, hampering firefighting efforts. - Yonhap
