The Kumho Tire factory in Gwangju showed signs of collapse on the afternoon of the 19th, following a fire. Firefighters who were extinguishing the fire inside all withdrew.
According to the fire authorities, the interior of the refining process building at the Kumho Tire factory in Gwangju showed signs of collapse that afternoon. It was reported that the floors on the second and third stories of the three-story building had dropped about 50 centimeters.
Authorities immediately withdrew the firefighters and installed a cordon to prevent anyone from entering the interior.
The fire at the Kumho Tire factory was extinguished at 2:50 p.m. the day before, about 32 hours after it started. Remaining embers are scattered throughout the three-story factory, divided into 36 compartments. The fire continues to burn using tire materials as fuel. Even when water is sprayed to extinguish it, it has been reported that re-ignitions occur repeatedly, causing difficulties for the fire authorities in putting it out.
On that day, authorities began firefighting operations using excavators and other equipment to dismantle the piles of special materials used for tire production.