A fire has broken out at a Coupang logistics center in Incheon, and despite the fire authorities issuing a national firefighting mobilization order, they are struggling to extinguish the blaze due to household goods stored inside and thick smoke.
According to the Incheon Fire Headquarters, the fire started on the 6th floor of the Coupang No. 32 logistics center in Seoknam-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon, at approximately 6:50 a.m. today (July 18).
Fire authorities issued a Level 1 response at 9:15 a.m., about two hours after the fire began, followed by a Level 2 response at around 12:25 p.m.
A Level 1 response involves the mobilization of all personnel from the local fire station, while a Level 2 response is an alert that calls for personnel and equipment from five to six neighboring fire stations.
Subsequently, the National Fire Agency issued a national firefighting mobilization order at 3:15 p.m. to respond to the logistics center fire with full force.
As a result, 386 firefighters and 142 pieces of equipment have been deployed, including 21 units such as high-altitude ladder trucks and unmanned firefighting robots supported by five cities and provinces: Seoul, Gyeonggi, North Chungcheong, South Chungcheong, and Gangwon.
However, the firefighting efforts are facing difficulties despite the full-scale response, as household goods stored on three-tier shelves are burning, filling the building with dense black smoke.
Black smoke has blanketed the sky outside the building, leading to a series of reports from citizens, and fire authorities expect that it will take a significant amount of time to fully extinguish the fire.
At the time of the fire, 121 people, including logistics center staff, evacuated on their own. However, during the firefighting process, a firefighter in his 40s inhaled smoke and was transported to a hospital by 119 emergency services, where he is receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
The building where the fire occurred is an 8-story reinforced concrete structure with a total floor area of 299,000 square meters.
It was determined that the firefighter inhaled smoke while operating a ladder truck.
Seo-gu issued a safety alert via text message, advising, "Due to the large amount of smoke and dust generated by the fire, nearby residents and vulnerable facilities are urged to close windows and refrain from outdoor activities."
Fire authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage once the blaze is extinguished.
(Photo: Yonhap News)