Massive Fire Destroys 70% Kumho Tire Gwangju Plant

A major fire broke out at Kumho Tire's plant in Gwangju, South Korea, leading to a suspension of all production at the facility. The blaze, which began during a tire manufacturing process involving heating raw rubber, rapidly spread through the western section of the plant, destroying an estimated 50-60 percent of that area and causing flames to reach up to 100 meters high. Firefighting efforts have involved hundreds of personnel and numerous pieces of equipment, with containment progressing from about 70 percent on the first day to nearly 95 percent by Monday. The National Fire Agency issued a nationwide firefighting mobilization order due to the fire's scale and the presence of about 20 tons of raw rubber, which complicated extinguishing the blaze. One employee was injured but his condition is not life-threatening. Authorities are investigating the exact cause once the fire is fully extinguished, with expectations that it could take several days to completely put out the remaining flames.