[Breaking] Major Fire at Kumho Tire Gwangju Factory...Production Halted

Kumho Tire: "Production to Halt Until Fire is Contained"
20 Tons of Raw Rubber Stored... Full Extinguishment May Take a Week

A large fire broke out at Kumho Tire Gwangju Factory, and the fire authorities are conducting extinguishing operations while controlling roads and other areas. Photo by Song Bohyun

Kumho Tire's Gwangju Factory, where a large fire broke out, has completely halted production.

According to Kumho Tire officials and others on May 17, approximately 400 employees who were working at the factory that day have evacuated the premises. One employee in his twenties suffered a leg fracture and has been transported to the hospital for treatment.

Kumho Tire announced that it will temporarily suspend all production processes at the factory as soon as the fire is brought under control.

It is reported that inside the factory, there are dozens of tons of raw and subsidiary materials for tire production, including 20 tons of raw rubber. There are projections that it may take up to a week or longer for the fire to be completely extinguished.

Meanwhile, the fire broke out at around 7:11 a.m. on May 17 in the compounding process area of the Kumho Tire Gwangju Factory, located in Songjeong-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju.

It has been tentatively determined that the fire started when a spark occurred in a device used to preheat raw rubber in the compounding process.

The fire authorities raised the response level from Level 1, which was issued at 7:28 a.m., to Level 2 at 7:59 a.m.