World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
Fire at Coupang logistics center in Incheon linked to lithium battery
A fire broke out at a Coupang logistics center in Incheon.
South Korea’s National Fire Agency said lithium-battery thermal runaway caused the fire.
The agency’s statement identifies the cause as a battery-related event.
The available information does not say when the fire started.
It gives no details about injuries, damage or how the fire was contained.
No further steps or investigation plans were stated.
Police closed their investigation into a major fire at a Coupang logistics center in Incheon without identifying a suspect or determining the precise cause.
The fire broke out on July 18 and took more than 109 hours to extinguish.
Police located the point of ignition on the sixth floor but said the evidence was too badly burned to establish what started the fire.
The National Fire Agency judged that thermal runaway in a lithium-ion battery in a household item caused the blaze.
The estimated property damage was 114 billion won, and two firefighters received hospital treatment.
- Who
- Coupang and the Incheon police investigated the fire; the National Fire Agency assessed its cause.
- What
- A major fire broke out at a Coupang logistics center. Police closed the investigation without identifying a suspect or confirming the precise cause.
- When
- The fire began on July 18 at about 6:54 a.m. Police announced the investigation’s closure on October 29.
- Where
- Coupang’s logistics center in Seoknam-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon, South Korea.
- Why
- The National Fire Agency attributed the fire to thermal runaway in a lithium-ion battery in a household item. Police said they could not determine the specific cause.
Incheon police
National Fire Agency
Cause of fire
Incheon police
Police said they could not determine the specific cause because the evidence was badly burned.
National Fire Agency
The agency judged that thermal runaway in a lithium-ion battery in a household item caused the fire.
The fire broke out at the Coupang logistics center in Incheon.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze.
Police announced that they had closed the investigation without finding criminal conduct or determining the precise cause.
- Fire location
- Sixth floor, second slot of the third-tier structural shelving
- Estimated property damage
- 114 billion won
- Firefighting duration
- More than 109 hours and 40 minutes
- Firefighter injuries
- Two firefighters received hospital treatment for smoke inhalation and exhaustion
3 sources
What people are saying
We plan to request institutional improvements from relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the National Fire Agency, to strengthen management of facilities where there is a risk of major fires.