Inferno Engulfs Coupang Warehouse: 52-hour Blaze Sparks Major Evacuation in Seoul

A significant fire broke out at Coupang’s No. 32 logistics center located in Incheon, west of Seoul, prompting an evacuation of surrounding businesses and factories due to structural collapse concerns. The fire, which originated on the building’s sixth floor and spread to the seventh, burned for over 52 hours.

The Incident at Coupang’s Fulfillment Center

The blaze commenced at approximately 6:54 am local time on Saturday. The fulfillment center, which serves the Seoul metropolitan area, primarily stores goods purchased directly by Coupang for their fast-delivery service. Spanning eight floors and covering an area of around 299,000 square meters, the centre’s vast size is equivalent to about 42 football fields. The fire’s cause remains unclear, however, the building contains numerous flammable items such as household goods, paper boxes, and vinyl packaging. An investigation will commence as soon as the fire is entirely extinguished.

Despite the adverse conditions, all workers present in the building at the time of the fire were safely evacuated, according to the company. Surveillance footage taken on Monday morning showed an ongoing situation, with dozens of fire trucks still present and smoke continuing to pour out of the building, even amid rainfall.

Late on Sunday, the authorities ordered an evacuation for businesses and factories within 116 meters (around 127 yards) of the warehouse’s ramp area due to fears of a partial building collapse. Coupang Corp, a subsidiary of the U.S.-based Coupang Inc, and South Korea’s most extensive e-commerce firm, has yet to publicly quantify the expected operational disruption or financial damage.

In a recent fact sheet, Coupang revealed that it operates over 100 logistics centers across more than 30 regions in South Korea.

A Message from Coupang’s Leadership

The head of Coupang Fulfilment Services, Jeong Jong-cheol, issued a public apology on Saturday. He affirmed the company’s commitment to cooperating with authorities, supporting firefighting efforts, and assisting nearby residents affected by the incident. The company has declined further comment at this time.