Fire hits Japanese-owned tire factory in northern Philippines

PAMPANGA, Philippines (Reuters)– A fire broke out at a Japanese-owned tire factory in the northern Philippine province of Pampanga on Sunday (May 14).

Around 900 workers at the Yokohama Tire Philippines Inc. factory were evacuated after the fire was spotted around 3 PM local time (0700 GMT).

The fire lasted for three hours.

Authorities have yet to find its cause.

No casualties or losses have been reported, but the factory’s operation remained suspended on Monday (May 15).

The blaze is the first to hit the factory since it began manufacturing tires in Pampanga’s economic district more than two decades ago.