[Breaking] Fire Spreads at Kumho Tire Gwangju Factory... Growing Concerns

Fire Spreads About 100 Meters from Initial Ignition Point at Factory Center
Internal Buildings Estimated to Have Collapsed Three Times
Fire Authorities Deploy Eight Helicopters in All-Out Effort to Contain Blaze
Two Firefighters Suffer Burns and Are Currently Receiving Treatment

Fire authorities have been battling a large fire for over five hours at Kumho Tire's Gwangju factory. Photo by Song Bohyun

A major fire broke out at Kumho Tire's Gwangju factory, and it has been confirmed that secondary incidents such as building collapses have further complicated firefighting efforts.

According to fire authorities on May 17, the fire began at 7:11 a.m. in the mixing process (rubber compounding) workshop at Kumho Tire's Gwangju factory, and firefighting operations have been ongoing for over five hours.

However, inside the initial ignition point?the mixing process workshop?there are materials including 20 tons of raw rubber, a flammable tire ingredient, as well as other combustible substances, making it difficult for fire authorities to contain the blaze.

In particular, it has been reported that the factory buildings have collapsed three times just on this day, making it extremely difficult to enter the building. Some on site have even predicted that more than 70% of the entire factory could be damaged by the fire. All production lines have been halted.

Currently, the fire has spread approximately 100 meters within the factory, mainly from the mixing process workshop toward the right side of the facility. Fortunately, the buildings located in the opposite (southern) direction from the mixing process workshop have not yet been affected by the fire.

Fire authorities are making all-out efforts to prevent the fire from spreading, deploying a total of eight helicopters to the scene.

Meanwhile, one firefighter involved in the firefighting operations suffered second-degree burns to the face and was rushed to a nearby hospital, while another firefighter received first-degree burns to the back of the head and was given emergency treatment.