Massive fire at Coupang logistics center in Incheon continues for third day

A massive fire continues to rage at a Coupang logistics center in Incheon, South Korea, entering its third day with firefighters struggling to contain the blaze.

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The fire started on the sixth floor, which is approximately 20,000 square meters, and the fire origin is presumed to be inside the building.

The fire, which started on the sixth floor of the eight-story building, has spread to the seventh floor. The sheer size of the sixth floor, approximately 20,000 square meters, and its "mezzanine" structure, characterized by densely packed metal shelves up to 8 meters high with narrow 1.3-meter-wide aisles, have significantly hampered initial response efforts. Firefighters faced difficulties accessing the fire's origin and extending hoses, further complicated by collapsing shelves and thick smoke reducing visibility.

Despite the deployment of extensive resources, including 228 pieces of equipment and over 700 personnel, extinguishing the fire has proven challenging. Fire officials have resorted to breaking down parts of the building's structure to create space for water deployment and ventilation. The prolonged duration of the fire has raised concerns about the potential collapse of some structural elements, leading to evacuation orders for residents within a 116-meter radius of the logistics center's vehicle access road.

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The space structure of the logistics center slowed down the initial fire response. Because the floor area was so wide, it took a considerable amount of time to access the fire site and lay out the fire hoses.

Fortunately, all 121 personnel inside the building at the time of the fire evacuated safely, with no civilian casualties reported. However, two firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation and exhaustion. The fire has also disrupted local education, with nearby daycare centers advised to close for a day and a local elementary school deciding to suspend classes.

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Some of the shelves collapsed due to the fire, making it even more difficult for the team to enter. The large amount of combustibles like daily necessities piled up, along with high-temperature, dense smoke, made it difficult to secure visibility, which also hampered the firefighting.

Labor unions have pointed to Coupang's cost-saving measures, suggesting that the "mezzanine" structure, while efficient for storage, is inherently vulnerable to fires and difficult for initial suppression. The exact cause of the fire and the initial functionality of the building's sprinkler system remain under investigation, pending a joint assessment after the fire is fully extinguished.

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The fire has lasted for two days, and there is a possibility that some structures may collapse.