Work suspended for 2,000 employees of Japanese tire maker after fire

Fire at the Yokohama Tire Philippines Inc. warehouse in Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga on May 14, 2017. (INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO)

CLARK FREEPORT — Yokohama Tire Philippines Inc. (YTPI) has cancelled work for about 2,000 workers and service contractors to give way to an investigation into the cause of the Sunday (May 14) fire that gutted the company’s Phase 3 warehouse, an official said Monday (May 15)

The fire destroyed newly made tires meant for export, added the official.

Angelina Casasola, YTPI vice president for administration, said that as of Monday morning, the firm could not yet say when regular work would resume at the factory, the biggest outside of the Japan-based Yokohama Tire.

Only managers as well as engineering and maintenance units reported for work.

Around 900 employees working in the second shift were advised to go home shortly after the fire broke out at 3:20 p.m., she said.

Personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection began probing the cause of the fire. It was the first fire that hit the plant since it began manufacturing tires in Clark 25 years ago.

Power remained shut down at the plant.

The cost of damage is still being determined.

Other YTPI warehouses and stocks there have been secured, Casasola said.  SFM/rga