(2nd LD) Massive fire devastates Kumho Tire’s Gwangju plant; nat’l response order issued
(ATTN: ADDS new info in paras 3-4, 7-8, 11-17, new photo)
GWANGJU, May 17 (Yonhap) — Kumho Tire Co. suspended production at its Gwangju plant on Saturday after a massive fire engulfed a major section of the facility, prompting authorities to issue a nationwide firefighting mobilization order as the blaze continued to spread.
The fire, which started around 7:11 a.m. at the factory in Gwangju, some 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, has rapidly spread through plant buildings, with flames reportedly reaching as high as 100 meters, according to fire officials.
By 5 p.m., about 70 percent of the western section of the factory, roughly equivalent to five football fields in size, was consumed by the blaze.
Firefighters were focusing on keeping the flames from spreading to the southern section, which is separated from the west.
Smoke billows from a Kumho Tire Co. plant in Gwangju, some 270 kilometers south of Seoul, following a fire that broke out on May 17, 2025. (Yonhap)
The National Fire Agency issued a nationwide fire mobilization order, allowing firefighting personnel and equipment from neighboring regions to be deployed to the site.
Kumho Tire, South Korea’s second-largest tire maker, said all production has been halted at the plant. About 400 workers on duty at the time were evacuated, but one male employee in his 20s suffered injuries and was transported to a local hospital. His injuries are not considered life-threatening.
Two firefighters were also injured during the extinguishing operation.
Around 75 nearby residents were evacuated to temporary shelters due to heavy smoke in the area.
The fire is suspected to have started from equipment used for heating raw rubber.
Authorities said it may take up to several days to completely extinguish the fire, noting that about 20 tons of raw rubber was stored at the factory, hampering firefighting efforts.
Smoke billows from a Kumho Tire Co. plant in Gwangju, some 270 kilometers south of Seoul, on May 17, 2025. (Yonhap)
The production suspension is expected to disrupt tire supplies to major South Korean automakers, including Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp.
In particular, certain models of Hyundai Motor’s Casper crossover city car use tires manufactured by Kumho Tire.
Industry insiders predict that the fire at the Gwangju plant will significantly impact Kumho Tire’s earnings beyond the second quarter.
The company posted 4.5 trillion won (US$3.21 billion) in sales and 590.6 billion won in operating profit last year.
It has set a target of 5 trillion won in sales for 2025, with first-quarter revenue already reaching 1.2 trillion won.
Kumho Tire pledged to make every effort to minimize the fallout from the accident.
“With the fire now under control, we will soon be able to announce our estimated losses and outline plans for relocating our production lines,” a company official said.
Smoke billows from a Kumho Tire Co. plant in Gwangju, some 270 kilometers south of Seoul, on May 17, 2025. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
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