25 issues found in earlier inspection of Incheon Coupang logistics center after 61-hour fire

Firefighters are focused on extinguishing residual heat at an Incheon Coupang logistics center after a major blaze raged for 61 hours. The fire, which began on the sixth floor, was largely contained on Tuesday evening.

A comprehensive inspection of the Coupang logistics center in Seo-gu, Incheon, conducted earlier this year, identified 25 areas requiring attention. The Incheon Fire Department reported on Tuesday that the most significant number of issues, 13, were found in the alarm system.

Other areas needing improvement included the fire extinguishing system (3 issues), the evacuation and rescue system (3 issues), and fire doors and other components (6 issues). The inspection, requested by Coupang, was carried out by a registered fire safety management company over 23 days starting February 23.

Coupang submitted a report on May 11 confirming that all identified issues had been rectified. The fire department stated that the issues found on the sixth floor, where the fire originated, were minor, such as a detached alarm sensor pipe connection.

Firefighting efforts are now concentrating on the parking ramp area from the fifth to sixth floors, deemed safe for operations. Firefighters are using thermal cameras to monitor internal temperatures and employing defensive tactics to prevent the fire from spreading. The national fire mobilization order has been partially lifted, with some equipment and personnel withdrawn, though a Level 2 response remains in effect.