South Korean president orders full response to major logistics center fire

President Lee Jae-myung has directed a comprehensive response to a major fire that erupted at a Coupang logistics center in Incheon, prioritizing the safety of emergency responders. The blaze, which began at approximately 6:54 a.m. on July 18, engulfed the sixth floor of the facility in Seoknam-dong, Seo-gu.

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Make every effort to extinguish the fire and ensure that damage does not spread. Above all, thoroughly implement safety measures for the firefighters on site.

"Make every effort to extinguish the fire and ensure that damage does not spread," President Lee instructed, adding a specific emphasis on "thorough safety measures for the firefighters on site." The President received updates on the situation and issued his directives through Kang Yu-jeong, Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Relations.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also issued urgent instructions to Incheon City, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the National Police Agency, and the National Fire Agency. He called for meticulous site control, resident guidance, and necessary evacuations to prevent any harm to the local population. The Prime Minister specifically warned the fire department to be vigilant about secondary accidents, such as structural collapses, during the ongoing firefighting operations.

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Thoroughly manage site control and resident guidance, and evacuate residents if necessary, to prevent any damage to residents due to this fire.

The fire escalated rapidly, prompting the issuance of a Level 1 response at 9:15 a.m., followed by a Level 2 response at 12:25 p.m. By 3:15 p.m., a national fire mobilization order was enacted. While 121 personnel evacuated the facility on their own, one firefighter in his 40s was hospitalized and is receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy after inhaling smoke during the suppression efforts.

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Ensure thorough safety for fire officials extinguishing the fire on site, and be mindful of secondary accidents such as internal collapse due to the fire.