Firefighters work to put out blaze at chemical factory in Miryang

Smoke rises from a fire at the Hankuk Carbon factory in Miryang, South Gyeongsang, on Friday morning. [GYEONGSANGNAM-DO FIRE DEPARTMENT]

A fire broke out at a chemical factory in Miryang, South Gyeongsang, on Friday morning. No casualties have been reported.

Hankuk Carbon's factory 2 caught fire around 5 a.m. Friday, according to the South Gyeongsang Fire Department. The twenty-four employees that were in the factory were all evacuated safely.

Fire authorities issued a level 2 emergency response alert after some 80 minutes as flames showed no sign of weakening. A level 2 alert mobilizes firefighters and equipment from 10 nearby fire stations.

The Korea Forest Service dispatched more than 130 firefighters, 38 vehicles and 6 helicopters to the fire site.

The blaze spread to an adjacent mountain covered in trees, starting a forest fire.

The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage will be investigated once the blaze is fully extinguished, said a fire department spokesperson.

BY SOHN DONG-JOO [sohn.dongjoo@joongang.co.kr]