Major fire erupts at Kumho tire plant in South Korea, 400 evacuated VIDEO

A major fire broke out at Kumho Tire Co., South Korea’s second-largest tire manufacturer, located in the city of Gwangju.

The blaze began around 7:11 a.m. local time on the factory premises and rapidly spread to production buildings, Caliber.Az reports, citing Korean media.

By noon, the fire had consumed approximately 70% of the plant’s western section—an area roughly equivalent to five football fields.

South Korea’s National Fire Agency responded by mobilising firefighters nationwide, allowing reinforcements and equipment from nearby regions to assist in battling the fire.

เกาหลีใต้ 🇰🇷: ไฟไหม้โรงงาน ผลิตยางรถยนต์ :⚠️ระวังควันพิษฟุ้งกระจาย โรงงาน Kumho Tireในเมืองกวางจูจังหวัดชอลลาใต้ ทางการเกาหลีใต้ ต้องออกคำสั่งระดมพลดับเพลิงทั่วประเทศ

ไฟไหม้เกิดขึ้นเมื่อเวลาประมาณ 7.11 น. 17/5/2025 ที่โรงงานในเมืองกวางจู อยู่ห่างจากกรุงโซลไปทางใต้ประมาณ 270… pic.twitter.com/Va8wHqZEz4

— ข่าวสารกู้ชีพกู้ภัย (@Khaorescue714) May 17, 2025

Kumho Tire Co. confirmed that production at the plant has been halted due to the incident. Around 400 employees were evacuated safely, while one person sustained injuries and was hospitalised; however, their condition is stable and not life-threatening.

Preliminary reports suggest the fire was caused by equipment used to heat raw rubber. The facility stored about 20 tonnes of raw rubber, contributing to the fire’s intensity. Authorities expect that it may take several days to fully extinguish the blaze.

By Tamilla Hasanova