Tyre Plant in Japan Catches Massive Fire

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, September 09, 2003

Tyre Plant in Japan Catches Massive Fire

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More than 400 firefighters from 80 fire engines struggled Monday to douse a huge fire at the main tyre-making plant of Bridgestone Corp in north-eastern Japan, as it burned fiercely 10 hours after breaking out.

Though there were no injuries, the blaze forced hundreds of people to flee their homes, while rescuers battled to control it. The authorities had urged more than 5,000 nearby residents to evacuate to safety and 250 of them decided to take shelter at a junior high school gymnasium.

'Some residents are suffering minor irritation to their throat and eyes due to the smoke, but no one is serious enough to be sent to hospital,' said Kuroiso City official Takashi Tamaki.

Some 850 employees at the 510,000-sq-m factory have been safely evacuated from the site, which is located in a residential area 110km north of Tokyo.

An official with the Kuroiso-Nasu Fire Department said: 'The fire is still spreading and we have no idea when it will be brought under control.'

The company said the fire broke out in the plant's rubber-mixing area.

Source: Agencies

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