The factory in the southwestern city of Gwangju has the capacity to produce 12 million tyres a year, accounting for nearly 20% of Kumho’s global production capacity, the spokesman said.

One employee and two firefighters have been injured so far, the local fire agency said, with some 355 firefighters and 100 vehicles now deployed to the site.

The fire could burn for several days, the agency said.

Kumho Tire is seeking to increase production at one of its other domestic factories to offset lost production, the company spokesman said.

The company’s customers include Hyundai Motor, Volkswagen Group and Mercedes-Benz, according to its regulatory filing.

Tyres from the factory in Gwangju are also exported, especially to Europe, the spokesman said.

The fire allegedly broke out in the process of mixing chemicals with rubber, a highly inflammable material, media reports said.