Gwangju: 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.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the fire started around 7:11 a.m. at the factory in Gwangju, approximately 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul. It rapidly spread through plant buildings, with flames reportedly reaching heights of 100 meters. By noon, about 70 percent of the western section of the factory, roughly equivalent to five football fields in size, was consumed by the blaze.

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, confirmed that all production has been halted at the plant. About 400 workers on duty at the time were evacuated. However, one male employee in his 20s suffered injuries and was transported to a local hospital, though his injuries are not considered life-threatening.

The fire is suspected to have originated from equipment used for heating raw rubber. Authorities have indicated that it may take several days to completely extinguish the fire, noting that about 20 tons of raw rubber stored at the factory are complicating firefighting efforts.