Kozhikode (Kerala) | A fire broke out at a rubber footwear manufacturing unit at Payyanakkal here in the early hours of Friday, damaging machinery, electrical equipment and raw materials, Fire and Rescue Services officials said.

The fire was reported around 3 am at Jaisal Rubber Industries at Payyanakkal.

Officials said the factory manufactures footwear using imported rubber granules and other rubber materials.

A team from the Meenchanda Fire and Rescue Station, led by Assistant Station Officer Shihabudheen E, rushed to the spot and launched a firefighting operation.

It took more than an hour to bring the blaze under control using two fire tenders, officials said.

A 40 HP mixer motor, an electrical panel board, several other motors, a portion of the roof and footwear manufacturing materials were destroyed in the fire, officials said.

The cause of the fire is suspected to be a short circuit, officials said.

The exact extent of the loss is yet to be assessed, officials added.