Fire Broke Out During Rubber Steaming Process
At 7:11 a.m. on May 17, a fire broke out at the Kumho Tire Gwangju Plant in Sochon-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, prompting firefighting efforts by the authorities.
The fire reportedly started in the process where rubber, used as a tire material, is stored and steamed with electricity. The location where the fire broke out is presumed to be the rubber storage facility within the plant.
Initially, the fire authorities declared Response Level 1, mobilizing all personnel from the local fire station. However, as the fire proved difficult to contain, they escalated to Response Level 2, mobilizing firefighting personnel from across Gwangju.
Workers who were inside the plant at the time of the fire evacuated on their own, and so far, no casualties have been reported.
The Gwangsan District Office sent safety alert messages to residents of nearby apartments and announced a detour for vehicles on the road from Sochon Sera Apartments to the Kumho Tire entrance.
The police and fire authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the fire once it has been brought under control.
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