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Firefighters carry out firefighting operations at the Coupang 32 Logistics Center in Seongnam-dong, Seohae-gu, Incheon on the 19th, where a fire broke out. / Reported by Song Eui-ju

Demolition operations have begun on the building to expedite the suppression of the fire at the Incheon Coupang logistics center, which is undergoing its second day of firefighting efforts. This is intended to vent smoke from inside the building and secure space to spray firefighting water into the interior.

According to fire authorities on July 19, two excavators and 18 firefighters were deployed to the ramp area (the cargo truck access road) of the Incheon Coupang logistics center. The demolition work is being carried out at the connection point between the ramp area and the six-story center building to vent smoke outward and create space for spraying firefighting water. Fire authorities reportedly initiated the partial demolition of the building upon concluding that suppressing the fire solely by spraying water from the outside had hit a limit.

Fire authorities will monitor the internal heat and the density of the smoke to subsequently review whether firefighters can enter the interior through the space secured by the demolition work.

The fire broke out at the Coupang logistics center in Seongnam-dong, Seohae-gu, Incheon at around 6:54 a.m. on July 18. The fire, which started on the sixth floor of the eight-story logistics center with a total floor area of 299,000 square meters, has spread to the seventh floor. Fire authorities have issued a national fire mobilization order and have been carrying out firefighting operations for over 35 hours, deploying 221 pieces of equipment and 575 personnel, including firefighters and police officers.

                                                                                                              Lee Ha-eun