No Abnormalities Found in Hwangryong River Water Quality After Three-Day Investigation Following Kumho Tire Factory Fire

Regarding the fire at the Kumho Tire Gwangju Factory, it has been found that there are no significant abnormalities in the water quality of the nearby Hwangryong River.

On the afternoon of the 20th, preparation work is underway to demolish the building where a fire broke out at Kumho Tire Gwangju Factory in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. The fire authorities declared the fire completely extinguished three days after it occurred and have begun finalizing tasks such as building demolition. Yonhap News

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The Yeongsan River Basin Environmental Office announced on the 21st that it had measured concentrations of hazardous substances such as heavy metals at five locations in the Hwangryong River over three days immediately following the fire, and all results were within acceptable standards. Real-time water quality monitoring using drones also did not detect any unusual events, such as mass fish deaths.

In the initial response phase, the Environmental Office installed a collection pipeline to prevent firefighting wastewater from flowing into the river, redirecting it to a sewage treatment plant. Around the factory's drainage outlets, barriers, containment dikes, and oil booms were set up to block the spread of contamination.

The Yeongsan River Basin Environmental Office plans to continue on-site monitoring and will conduct ongoing inspections to ensure there is no environmental damage caused by the fire.

An official from the Environmental Office stated, "We will thoroughly manage the situation to prevent hazardous substances from the fire from spreading into the river."

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