A fire has destroyed a large part of Federal Tire’s manufacturing plant in Taoyuan city, in Taiwan.

The fire broke out on Tuesday, January 17and the factory was seen engulfed in heavy flames. Firefighters were able to put out the blaze, but not until the plant had been burned to the ground, sending a thick plume of black smoke into the air.

The point of origin of the fire was said to be a 9,930-square meter iron-sheet building, while the exact cause of the fire has not been determined. Due to the nature of the fire, it took more than 80 fire trucks and almost 300 firefighters to extinguish the blaze.

The Jhongli plant has an annual output of 3 million tyres, of which more than 90 per cent are exported. The fire is set to add to ongoing supply difficulties.