TOKYO, Sept 8: Authorities in northeastern Japan urged more than 5,000 residents to evacuate on Monday after a major fire broke out at a plant run by the nation’s top tyre maker Bridgestone Corp., officials said.

“The fire is still spreading and we have no idea when the fire will be brought under control,” an official with the Kuroiso-Nasu Fire Department said.

The official said no one so far had been reported injured but the authorities warned a total of 5,032 nearby residents they should leave their homes.

“Some residents are suffering minor irritation to their throat and eyes due to the smoke, but no one is serious enough to be sent to hospital,” said Takashi Tamaki, an official of Kuroiso City.

“We provided cooked rice and water for the residents, and medicare officials from the city are to stay at shelters overnight,” Tamaki said.

As of 7:00 pm, the fire was still burning out of control and producing a huge column of black smoke which drifted over Kuroiso City.—AFP