Fire authorities face large quantities of rubber and materials inside the factory
Fire area reaches the size of a soccer field
"Focusing on preventing spread to adjacent buildings"
A fire broke out at Kumho Tire's Gwangju factory, and the fire authorities are currently working to extinguish it. Photo by Reader Provided
On the morning of May 17, a fire broke out at Kumho Tire's Gwangju factory. While the fire authorities have begun firefighting operations, it is expected that it may take at least a week or more to fully extinguish the fire.
According to the fire authorities, a large quantity of rubber materials, which are used as raw materials for tires, is stored inside the Kumho Tire factory in the area where the fire occurred (the compounding process area).
The fire authorities explained that, since the materials are vulnerable to heat and are present in large quantities, they are currently using high-performance chemical fire engines to extinguish the blaze. They also confirmed that they are focusing on preventing the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings.
They added that, given the fire currently covers an area the size of a soccer field, it is expected to take more than a week to achieve complete extinguishment.
At the scene, one worker was rescued and sustained a leg injury. The worker has been transported to a hospital for treatment.
The fire authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage once the fire has been extinguished.
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