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Kia loses 1,997 cars in freighter fire

SEOUL, Nov 26 (Reuters) - South Korea's second-largest automaker Kia Motors said on Tuesday it had lost nearly 2,000 cars on a freighter that caught fire after it washed up on a Japanese island during a storm.

The 56,835-tonne Hual Europe, which is registered in the Bahamas and owned by a Norwegian firm, was stranded on Izu-Oshima island near Tokyo early last month during a typhoon.

The official said the value of the 1,997 U.S.-bound cars was estimated at about $20 million, but he said the loss would be fully covered by cargo insurer Hyundai Merchant Marine Co .

Kia produces 90,000 automobiles each month. Its shares ended Tuesday down 2.5 percent at 9,070 won versus the main board's 0.51 percent fall.

A Japanese coast guard official said the freighter was carrying nearly 3,700 cars when it caught fire. The cause of the fire had not been determined.