Coupang warehouse fire triggers nationwide response
Hundreds of firefighters and equipment from across the country were deployed as a blaze at a Coupang logistics center in Incheon burned for hours amid heavy smoke.
Thick smoke rises from the sixth floor of a Coupang logistics center in Seongnam-dong, Seohae District, Incheon, after a fire broke out early on July 18.YONHAP
A fire broke out at a Coupang logistics center in Incheon early Saturday, with firefighters working to bring the blaze under control.
According to fire authorities, the fire was reported at 6:54 a.m. on the sixth floorat the logistics center in Seongnam-dong, Seohae District, Incheon.
Firefighters dispatched to the scene deployed more than 100 personnel and over 50 pieces of equipment, including pumper fire trucks, to extinguish the fire.
"A detailed investigation into the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage will be conducted once firefighting operations are complete," a fire official said.
Fire authorities issued a nationwide firefighting mobilization order later in the day, as crews continued efforts to contain the blaze. Officials said extinguishing the fire is expected to take considerable time due to the large amount of household goods stored inside the building.
Fire authorities issued a Level 1 response at around 9:15 a.m. before raising it to a Level 2 response at around 12:25 p.m. A Level 1 response mobilizes all personnel from the jurisdictional fire station, while a Level 2 response brings in personnel and equipment from five to six neighboring fire stations.
At 3:15 p.m., the National Fire Agency issued a nationwide firefighting mobilization order. Under the order, 21 pieces of equipment were dispatched from five regions — Seoul, Gyeonggi, North Chungcheong, South Chungcheong and Gangwon — including four aerial ladder trucks, 13 water tank trucks, one unmanned firefighting robot and three rehabilitation support vehicles.
As of Saturday afternoon, 386 personnel, including firefighters, and 142 vehicles and other equipment had been deployed to the scene.
Firefighters head up to the sixth floor of a Coupang logistics center in Seongnam-dong, Seohae District, Incheon, after a fire broke out at 6:54 a.m. on July 18. Fire authorities have issued a Level 2 response as crews continue efforts to contain the blaze.INCHEON FIRE DEPARTMENT
The logistics center is an eight-story reinforced concrete building with a total floor area of about 299,308 square meters (74 acres). The fire spread as large quantities of household goods stored inside caught fire, while thick smoke made it difficult for firefighters to secure visibility and enter the building.
A total of 121 people, including logistics center employees, evacuated on their own when the fire broke out.
During firefighting operations, a firefighter was taken to a hospital after inhaling smoke while operating an aerial ladder truck. They are not in life-threatening condition and were receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy, authorities said.
"Household goods are stored inside the center, and flames have made it difficult to secure visibility, making it hard for firefighters to enter the building," a fire official said. "It is expected to take a long time to completely extinguish the fire."
Seohae District issued a public safety alert urging nearby residents and facilities housing vulnerable people to keep windows closed and avoid outdoor activities because of heavy smoke and airborne particles from the fire.
Update, July 18: Added details about fire extinguishing efforts.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
