Police launched a compulsory investigation into the Coupang logistics center in Seoknam-dong, Seohae District, Incheon, where a massive fire burned for more than 109 hours.
According to police on the 30th, the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency's "Seoknam-dong Coupang logistics center fire investigation task force" conducted searches and seizures at three locations from about 10 a.m. that day, including a nearby Coupang office and the disaster prevention room.
Police deployed 30 investigators and continued the searches and seizures until 8 p.m., and they plan to wrap up the related procedures during the day.
During the searches and seizures, they secured materials related to fire safety and design blueprints of the logistics center. Procedures are also underway to obtain the original CCTV footage that captured the scene at the time of the fire.
No one has been booked in connection with the fire yet. Police launched the searches and seizures to determine the exact cause of the fire and any alleged offenses, including the possibility of arson or accidental ignition.
The fire broke out at about 6:54 a.m. on the 18th and was completely extinguished in the afternoon on the 22nd, about 109 hours and 40 minutes later. Two firefighters inhaled smoke or collapsed from exhaustion and were treated at a hospital, but there were no additional casualties.
According to the Incheon Fire Headquarters' "fire and accident situation report," fire authorities suspect the blaze first started in boxes stacked on the third-tier shelf on the sixth floor of the logistics center.
On the 28th, related agencies, including police and fire authorities, conducted a joint inspection and collected household items containing batteries equivalent to eight plastic packs and metal materials from the presumed ignition point.
A police official said it was "for the purpose of determining the cause of the fire," adding, "We will finish the searches and seizures today."