Key facts
- A fire occurred at Young Poong's Seokpo zinc smelter in South Korea.
- The smelter has an annual capacity of 728,000 tonnes.
- Concerns exist about the potential release of hazardous gases.
- Local authorities are evacuating residents and conducting search operations.
- Disruption to sulphuric acid production is a potential consequence.
A fire broke out at the Seokpo zinc smelter, operated by South Korean conglomerate Young Poong, in North Gyeongsang province on July 9, 2026. The incident occurred around 12:36 local time and prompted a level one response from fire authorities due to concerns over the potential release of hazardous gases. Firefighters have been dispatched to evacuate nearby residents and conduct search operations. The cause of the fire remains undetermined. Young Poong's Seokpo smelter has an annual capacity of 728,000 tonnes. The company supplies most of its sulphuric acid domestically, with an estimated 200,000 tonnes exported annually through Donghae port. Any disruption to sulphuric acid production could affect domestic availability. The company had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.