A fire at a Coupang warehouse in Seongnam-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon, has continued for three days, raising concerns about the potential collapse of the building. Flames and black smoke are still visible at the site, and fire authorities are engaged in firefighting efforts amid fears for structural safety due to the prolonged blaze.
The fire broke out on July 18 at 6:54 a.m. on the sixth floor of the warehouse. More than 50 hours later, the fire has not been fully extinguished, and reports indicate that some structural damage has occurred due to the extended high temperatures.
Fire officials are prioritizing safety in their firefighting operations, considering the possibility of a building collapse. There are discussions about preemptively dismantling parts of the structure using large cranes to reduce the risk of collapse and improve conditions for extinguishing the internal fire.
Online communities have seen posts warning about the collapse risk of the Coupang warehouse, urging nearby residents to evacuate to safe locations. Comments include concerns that if the entire warehouse were to collapse, the damage could be significant.
Another user noted that Coupang's losses could amount to hundreds of billions of won, factoring in not only the damage to the building itself but also the impact on incoming goods and logistics disruptions.
Particular concern has been raised due to the proximity of large petrochemical facilities, such as SK Energy and SK Incheon Petrochemical. Users have commented on the urgency of firefighting efforts, expressing hopes that there will be no casualties and noting that rain today has provided some relief. Others shared their fears, stating that black smoke was visible even from their homes and commending the hard work of firefighters.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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