A fire broke out at 5:36 a.m. on June 17th at the Coupang Deokpyeong Logistics Center in Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do.

Twenty minutes after receiving the report, the fire authorities issued a "second stage of response" alert and mobilized personnel and equipment at five to six fire stations adjacent to the fire department in charge. About 150 firefighters and 60 equipment were mobilized for the firefighting operation. The alert was lowered to the “first stage of response” at 6:14 a.m., when all personnel from the local fire department were dispatched. At last, after a long, tough time of firefighting, people were able to put out the big fire at 8:19 a.m..

Logistics Coupang Incheon Deokpyeong Center is a center that handles general products except fresh food. It has two basement floors and four floors above ground. The center also has a total floor area of 127,212㎡. The fire is thought to have started on the second basement floor of the building.

The fire authorities and the police said that about 240 employees were on duty here at the time of the fire, and all of them were evacuated and no casualties were reported.

However, the fire soared again, this time isolating one firefighter.

According to the fire authorities, the fire broke out again at 11:50 p.m. while cleaning up the remaining fire at the Icheon Logistics Center, and police officer A of the 119 rescue team at Gwangju Fire Station was isolated.

Firefighter A is reported to have entered the second basement floor, where the fire is believed to have started, but wasn’t able to escape.

One out of four other firefighters who entered the scene together escaped exhausted and was taken to the hospital, and the other three are confirmed to have evacuated safely.

Police and fire authorities will investigate the exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage as soon as the extinguishing work is completed; for the time being, they suspect that the fire started from an electrical wire.

A Coupang official said, "We expect some disruptions in the delivery of customer products, but we will minimize customer damage by sharing delivery at other centers."