A major fire at a Coupang logistics center in Incheon was largely contained about 61 hours after it started.
The Incheon Fire Headquarters said it brought the fire under primary control at 8 p.m. on the 20th after it broke out at about 6:54 a.m. on the 18th at Coupang's No. 32 logistics center in Seoknam-dong, Seo District, Incheon.
The fire occurred at a logistics center with eight above-ground floors and a total floor area of 299,000 square meters. A large amount of combustible material was stored inside and the building's structure was complex, making firefighting operations difficult.
Right after the fire broke out, 121 people, including logistics center employees, evacuated on their own, and there have been no casualties so far.
However, Seo District in Incheon issued an evacuation order to nearby residents due to the risk of building collapse, and about 200 people are staying at temporary shelters.
Immediately after the fire, the fire authorities issued response levels 1 and 2 in succession and then declared a national fire mobilization order, deploying firefighting personnel and equipment from eight nearby cities and provinces to carry out suppression efforts.
As the suppression dragged on, additional safety measures were implemented, including installing collapse alarms at three key points of the building.
The fire authorities deployed 231 pieces of equipment and 812 personnel, including firefighters, and after continuing nighttime firefighting for a third straight day, they brought the main blaze under control; they are now maintaining the response level while extinguishing remaining embers.
Once the fire is completely extinguished, the fire authorities plan to form a joint investigation team with relevant agencies, including the National Fire Agency, the National Fire Research Institute, and the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation (KESCO), to investigate the cause of the fire and the exact extent of the damage.