Lead
A massive fire at a Coupang warehouse in Incheon, just west of Seoul, was fully extinguished Wednesday evening, about 109 hours after it broke out, according to the Incheon Fire Headquarters. The blaze, which began Saturday, forced the evacuation of hundreds of nearby residents and left two firefighters injured, the firefighting authorities reported.
Coverage comparison
The firefighting effort unfolded over several days, with Yonhap News Agency providing continuous updates. Early reports on Monday described the flames as still raging and uncontained, with authorities mobilizing hundreds of firefighters and equipment under a national order. Later that day, the fire was declared under initial control at 8 p.m., roughly 61 hours after the outbreak, helped by rainfall. The final reports on Wednesday confirmed the fire was fully extinguished at 8:35 p.m., after burning for 109 hours and 40 minutes.
Accounts of the number of deployed firefighters varied slightly between reports: one Monday update cited 813 firefighters, while another cited 812. Both reports consistently mentioned 231 pieces of equipment. Similarly, the number of residents sheltering at nearby schools was reported as more than 200 in some accounts and 178 in others, reflecting evolving figures as the situation developed.
Key claims
- Fire timeline: The fire broke out early Saturday at a Coupang logistics center in Incheon's Seongnam-dong. It was brought under initial control Monday at 8 p.m., about 61 hours after ignition, and fully extinguished Wednesday at 8:35 p.m., approximately 109 hours and 40 minutes after it began.
- Cause of difficulty: Firefighting efforts were hampered by the building's complex structure and the vast amounts of flammable materials stored inside. Rain on Monday helped firefighters make progress.
- Evacuations: Residents were evacuated from areas within 116 meters of the warehouse's ramp zone late Sunday due to concerns the structure could collapse. More than 120 people, including warehouse employees, evacuated the building immediately after the fire broke out, and hundreds of residents took shelter at nearby schools.
- Injuries: Two firefighters were injured during the operation. No other casualties were reported.
- Closures: Local authorities advised daycare centers and elementary schools in the area to close Monday, resulting in the closure of one elementary school and 14 daycare centers.
- Record: The fire was the second-longest warehouse fire in South Korea, following a 2021 blaze at a Coupang distribution center in Icheon that burned for about 130 hours.
- Investigation: Firefighting authorities said they would form an investigation team to determine the cause of the blaze and assess the extent of the damage.