Firefighters battled a massive blaze at an e-commerce logistics centre near Seoul for the third straight day on Monday amid growing fears that the damaged building could collapse.
The fire broke out at around 6.54am on Saturday on the sixth floor of Coupang’s No 32 logistics centre in Incheon, west of Seoul before spreading to the seventh floor.
Firefighting efforts were hindered by the large volume of highly flammable materials stored inside the warehouse. However, crews made progress on Monday as steady rainfall helped contain the flames.
“We believe it’ll be possible to bring the fire under initial control sometime today,” state news agency Yonhap quoted a local fire official as saying on Monday. “It is difficult to specify exactly when the fire will be extinguished.”
All workers inside the building were safely evacuated, Coupang said.
The cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed, but the fulfilment centre holds many flammables such as household products, paper boxes and vinyl packaging. Authorities plan to investigate after the fire is fully extinguished.
Footage showed a dozen fire trucks at the site as smoke continued to rise from the building despite rain.
On Sunday, local authorities issued an evacuation order for shops and factories within 116 metres of the warehouse’s ramp area, citing a possible partial collapse of the building. The order prompted 178 people to take shelter in local schools.
Authorities said as many as 812 firefighters and 231 pieces of equipment had been pressed into service to battle the blaze.
Coupang Corp, a subsidiary of US-based Coupang Inc, is South Korea’s largest e-commerce firm. The company did not publicly quantify expected operational disruption or financial damage.
The facility is a warehouse for goods that Coupang buys directly for its fast-delivery service. It’s spread over eight floors, with a total floor area of 299,000 square metres, equivalent to 42 football fields.
Coupang’s 2025 factsheet says it runs over 100 logistics centres across 30 regions of South Korea.
On Saturday, Jeong Jong Cheol, head of Coupang Fulfilment Services, issued an apology for the fire. He also said the company would cooperate with authorities, support firefighting efforts, and assist nearby residents.
Read MoreSouth Korea files first criminal case over AI smart glasses exam cheating case
Bangkok bar fire: What to know about the deadly blaze that killed 27
South Korea’s top court upholds prison term for ex-president Yoon in martial law case
Warming seas bring jellyfish and sharks to South Korea’s beaches
At least 12 dead in heavy rains across southern China and Vietnam
Japan relaxes royal succession law but women still can’t become emperors
