Seoul: The Incheon city government ordered the evacuation of nearby residents Sunday over concerns that a fire-damaged Coupang Corp. logistics center could collapse as firefighters battled for a second straight night to contain a massive blaze that remained uncontained nearly 40 hours after it broke out.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the city said the evacuation order, effective from 11 p.m., covers areas within a 116-meter radius of the logistics center's loading ramp. The fire originated on the sixth floor of the facility at 6:54 a.m. Saturday and was still raging as of 8 p.m. Sunday.
The fire led to the evacuation of 121 individuals inside the facility, including logistics workers. As a response, authorities issued a national firefighting mobilization order, deploying personnel and equipment from eight neighboring cities and provinces.
A total of 228 vehicles and 721 firefighters and police officers have been dispatched to the scene. Helicopters and ladder trucks have been used to spray water from both the air and ground, but efforts to control the blaze have been hampered by poor visibility due to thick smoke and the presence of large quantities of flammable materials stored inside the logistics center.
On Sunday afternoon, authorities deployed two excavators and 18 firefighters to the logistics center's truck ramp to carry out demolition work aimed at venting smoke from the building and creating openings through which water could be directed. Once the demolition work is complete, officials will assess whether firefighters can safely enter the building through the newly created openings.
Fire authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the fire once it is extinguished. The incident has already taken a toll on the emergency responders, with two firefighters being hospitalized after inhaling smoke and suffering exhaustion on Saturday.
This incident recalls a similar tragedy in 2021, when a firefighter went missing while battling a blaze at a Coupang distribution center in Icheon and was found dead 48 hours later.
In response to the current situation, Coupang issued a public apology and pledged full cooperation with the authorities in the ongoing investigation. "We sincerely apologize to the residents of Incheon and the people of Korea for causing concern," Coupang stated. "We will prioritize the safety of firefighters above all else, provide full support for firefighting operations at the scene, and actively cooperate with the relevant authorities' investigation."