▲ The scene of the fire where overnight firefighting operations are underway on the 19th
Local authorities have issued an evacuation order for residents near the Coupang logistics center in Incheon, where a fire has been burning for two days, due to concerns over the potential collapse of some structures.
Today (July 19), Seohae-gu, Incheon, issued the evacuation order at 11:00 p.m. for an area within a 116-meter radius of the logistics center's ramp zone.
Seohae-gu made the decision following a situation assessment meeting with relevant agencies held earlier that afternoon, taking into account the risk of building collapse.
The area covered by the evacuation order does not include densely populated residential zones, but consists of small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses and commercial shops.
A safety engineer from Coupang who attended the meeting reportedly stated, "If the fire continues, parts of the logistics center building could shift sideways," adding, "There is a risk of collapse if the shifted building structure collides with the ramp zone (the entry and exit route for cargo trucks)."
Conversely, a structural engineer from the Korean Structural Engineers Association reportedly countered this, saying, "If the fire continues, the stored goods will be consumed, meaning they will no longer act as a load," and argued that "the conditions (assumed by Coupang) are unreasonable."
The fire broke out at approximately 6:54 a.m. yesterday, and firefighting authorities have been battling the blaze for nearly 40 hours after issuing a national firefighting mobilization order, which brings in personnel and equipment from eight nearby cities and provinces.
Fire authorities have deployed 721 personnel, including firefighters and police officers, along with 228 pieces of equipment, such as ladder trucks, articulated fire trucks, and helicopters. However, they are facing difficulties in extinguishing the fire due to the large amount of flammable materials stored in the center and the complex internal structure.
(Photo: Provided by Incheon Fire Department, Yonhap News)
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