"Many Flammable Goods Such as Daily Necessities on 6th Floor" Thick Smoke Fills the Air... Fire Spreads Along Outer Wall to 7th Floor

Fire at Coupang Logistics Center in Incheon Spreads to 7th Floor
One Firefighter Injured
Extinguishing Efforts Hampered by Flammable Goods, Thick Smoke, and Intense Heat
386 Personnel and 142 Pieces of Equipment Mobilized for Full Response

The fire that started on the 6th floor of the Coupang Logistics Center in Incheon spread along the building's exterior wall up to the 7th floor. Fire authorities have issued the National Emergency Firefighting Mobilization Order and have been working to bring the blaze under control for nearly twelve hours.

Jeon Jaein, head of the 119 Disaster Response Division at the Incheon Seobu Fire Station, stated at an on-site briefing on the 18th, "The 6th floor is a large logistics warehouse with a three-tiered shelving structure, where a large quantity of flammable goods such as daily necessities are stored." He added, "The fire spread along the exterior wall to the 7th floor."

At around 6:54 a.m. on the 18th, a fire broke out on the 6th floor of the Coupang logistics center in Seongnam-dong, Seohae-gu, Incheon, and the smoke continued rising until the afternoon of the same day. Yonhap News

The fire began at approximately 6:54 a.m. on the 6th floor of the Coupang 32 Logistics Center, an eight-story building located in Seoknam-dong, Seohae-gu, Incheon. The fire department consecutively issued a Level 1 response at 9:15 a.m., a Level 2 response at 12:25 p.m., and declared the National Emergency Firefighting Mobilization Order at 3:15 p.m.

A fire broke out at around 6:54 a.m. on the 18th on the 6th floor of Coupang Logistics Center 32 in Seoknam-dong, Seohae-gu, Incheon. The fire department issued a level 2 response and is conducting extinguishing operations. Incheon Fire Department. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

A total of 386 personnel, including firefighters, and 142 pieces of equipment have been deployed to the scene. However, due to the expansive internal space, thick smoke, and intense heat, firefighters are having difficulty securing visibility and entering the building. The authorities have established firebreaks throughout the building to prevent further spread and are using excavators and forklifts to remove obstacles.

During the fire, 121 people, including logistics center staff, evacuated on their own. However, a firefighter in his 40s who was involved in firefighting operations inhaled smoke and was transported to the hospital, where he is receiving high-pressure oxygen therapy.

A fire broke out at around 6:54 AM on the 18th on the 6th floor of Coupang Distribution Center 32 in Seoknam-dong, Seohae-gu, Incheon. The fire department has issued Response Level 2 and is carrying out extinguishing operations. Incheon Fire Department. Photo by Yonhap News.

President Lee Jaemyung instructed, "Make every effort to extinguish the fire and ensure that the damage does not spread." He also ordered that thorough safety measures be taken for firefighters on site.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.