SOUTH KOREA: Kumho Tire Co., South Korea’s second-largest tyre manufacturer, has halted operations at its Gwangju plant after a fire broke out at the facility early Saturday morning. The incident occurred at approximately 07:11 KST, prompting the immediate evacuation of around 400 employees who were on site at the time.
The fire is believed to have originated from machinery used in the heating of raw rubber materials. As a precaution, the company has suspended all production activities at the site until the situation is fully stabilised.
A company spokesperson confirmed to Yonhap News Agency that “All production will be suspended until the situation is brought under control.” Emergency response teams were quickly dispatched, with 167 personnel and 65 firefighting units deployed to the scene.
One male employee in his 20s sustained injuries during the incident and has been transported to a nearby hospital. His condition is reported as non-life threatening.
Authorities estimate that extinguishing the blaze may take several days due to the significant volume—approximately 20 tonnes—of raw rubber stored at the facility, which has made firefighting efforts more complex.
Kumho Tire has not yet provided an estimate for when operations will resume, as emergency response remains the immediate priority.
-Yonhap
