Emergency services are putting out a fire that broke out at a bottled gas factory in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, at around 6:40 a.m., Sunday.

Some 400 firefighters, 40 fire engines and a helicopter have been dispatched to the scene.

Eight out of 28 building units at the factory had been destroyed as of 8:40 a.m., but the fire was mostly contained.

"The explosion of a butane gas can was heard. People in the area have been evacuated. We have yet to know if there are any casualties," an official said.