[Anchor]
The fire at the Coupang logistics center in Incheon has still not been completely extinguished today, the fifth day since the blaze broke out. Firefighters are still unable to enter the 6th floor, where the fire started. Let's go live to the scene.
Reporter Kwon Min-kyu, it seems smoke and flames are no longer visible. What is the current situation at the scene?
[Reporter]
Yes, while flames are no longer visible from the outside, residual fires persist centered around the 6th floor where the fire began. As a result, the fire authorities have mobilized all available personnel from local fire stations to carry out suppression operations.
The interior remains filled with intense heat and there is a risk of collapse, making it difficult for firefighters to enter the 6th floor. For now, they are focusing on securing an entry path to the 6th floor by spraying water using elevated platform trucks.
The fire authorities believe that the possibility of the fire spreading to the 5th floor just below—which houses hundreds of robots equipped with lithium batteries—is low. However, field officials noted that because hundreds of robots are also deployed on the 4th floor, the initial suppression efforts could have been prolonged even further under different circumstances.
[Anchor]
Fortunately, the major fire has been brought under control, but are even more residents gathering at the shelters?
[Reporter]
That's correct.
The number of residents staying at three nearby shelters, including local elementary and middle schools, has increased from around 190 yesterday to 214 as of 6:00 p.m. today, an increase of about 20 people.
Residents said they came to the shelters due to the smoke and fine dust filling their homes, as well as concerns that the flames might flare up again.
[Yang Soon-rye / Shelter Resident: There is a acrid smell building up inside the house. It feels burning and stinging in my throat, like chili powder was sprinkled on it, and it makes me cough. It hurts and stings.]
[Shelter Resident: Staying at home makes me so anxious that I can only sleep about two hours a day. I end up going outside and walking around to check on things.]
As the return of shelter residents is being delayed, the Seoheung-gu Office in Incheon has decided to keep the shelters operational for the time being.
(Camera Reporter: Kim Nam-sung, Video Editor: Lee So-young)
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