Coupang Logistics Center CCTV Released... 'Sprinklers Did Not Activate'

Police Investigate Coupang for Delayed Evacuation and Alleged Unauthorized Sprinkler Tampering

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] The police investigating the fire accident that occurred on the 17th at the Coupang Deokpyeong Logistics Center in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, will begin a full-scale investigation into the cause of the fire next week.

The investigation team of the Southern Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency announced on the 26th that they plan to conduct a joint inspection early next week with related agencies such as the National Forensic Service, Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters, and Korea Electrical Safety Corporation.

The fire was completely extinguished on the 22nd, five days after it occurred, and the risk of building collapse has been resolved, allowing entry inside.

The police plan to conduct an inspection focusing on the area around the ignition point, which was confirmed through CCTV in the underground 2nd floor storage warehouse of the logistics center on the day of the fire.

Since there is no air conditioner installed on the underground 2nd floor, several electric wires for plugging in fans run above the display shelves, and sparks occurred at one of these points.

According to CCTV footage released by the office of Kwon Young-se, a member of the People Power Party, sparks first appeared above the display shelves around 5:11 a.m. The footage also captured that the sprinkler did not operate until the fire grew and thick black smoke filled the surroundings.

Later, at 5:36 a.m., an employee who saw smoke leaking outside the warehouse made the first report, and the fire brigade arrived seven minutes later to begin extinguishing operations.

The police, investigating allegations of Coupang’s delayed evacuation and unauthorized manipulation of the sprinkler system, are also considering the possibility that the time on the CCTV may not match the actual time and are investigating the exact time of the fire.

A police official said, "We plan to identify the exact ignition point and cause of the fire through a joint inspection."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.