[Anchor]

A massive fire at the Coupang logistics center in Incheon has been burning for three days. With concerns over a potential building collapse, an evacuation order has been issued for nearby residents, and daycare centers and an elementary school have been advised to close.

Report by Bae Seong-jae.

[Reporter]

Thick, black smoke billows from inside the building.

The fire, which broke out on the 6th floor of the Coupang logistics center in Seohae-gu, Incheon, at 6:54 a.m. on July 18, has been burning for 50 hours.

Despite three days of firefighting efforts, there is still no word that the main blaze has been brought under control.

Fire authorities had initially expected to contain the fire by around 11:00 p.m. yesterday.

However, the complex interior of the logistics center and the abundance of flammable materials have hindered progress. The flames on the 6th floor intensified again yesterday evening, forcing firefighters to evacuate and further complicating the operation.

Fire authorities are continuing their efforts by using excavators to break through parts of the building to create space to spray water. However, it is expected to take more time to fully extinguish the fire as the interior remains filled with smoke.

With concerns raised about the possibility of a partial building collapse, the Seohae-gu Office issued an evacuation order at approximately 11:00 p.m. yesterday for residents within a 116-meter radius. Residents who received the emergency alert were seen evacuating overnight.

[Nearby Resident: I am so anxious. My family is sleeping, but I cannot sleep.]

[Oh Soo-hong / Seohae-gu, Incheon: I do not know what is happening, with fire trucks blaring their sirens like that....]

The Seohae-gu Office also advised 31 nearby daycare centers to close for the day today due to health concerns regarding smoke, and one nearby elementary school has suspended classes today.

While there were no casualties among the logistics center staff, two firefighters were transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation and exhaustion, respectively.

(Video Editing: Lee Sang-min)