Schools and daycare centers near Coupang logistics center fire close; Shinseok Elementary suspends classes and 14 daycare centers shut down

[Financial News, Incheon = Reporter Han Gap-su] As the fire at Coupang's logistics center in Incheon entered its third day without being brought under control, schools and daycare centers near the site began closing one after another. Shinseok Elementary School suspended classes on the 20th, and 14 daycare centers also stopped accepting children. With 168 evacuees taking shelter at nearby schools over fears of collapse, education authorities have moved to secure additional evacuation facilities.

According to the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education and Seohae District, one school, Shinseok Elementary, and 14 daycare centers near the Coupang logistics center in Seoknam-dong, where the fire broke out, were closed or suspended operations on this day, based on the previous day's count.

Shinseok Elementary, which closed for one day, will hold classes for only the first period on the 21st before beginning summer vacation immediately afterward. Two students who cannot be cared for at home will be looked after by two nearby elementary schools, which will share responsibility for their care.

The situation at kindergartens varies. Of the three nearby kindergartens, one was judged to be outside the affected area and is operating as usual. Another has stopped outdoor activities and is caring for children mainly indoors. The remaining one, which is already on vacation, has decided not to run its after-school program.

Shinhyun Elementary and Shinhyun North Elementary are currently operating as temporary shelters for evacuees. In anticipation of evacuation orders issued over concerns that the logistics center could collapse, the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education has also prepared Shinhyun Girls' Middle School as an additional shelter. As of midnight the previous day, 168 evacuees were staying at the two schools, including six students.

Earlier, Seohae District had recommended that 31 daycare centers and elementary schools near the fire site suspend operations for the day. A district official said, "After recommending closures yesterday, we confirmed that 14 daycare centers decided to shut down," adding, "We are currently checking whether other daycare centers beyond the 31 we advised to close are also suspending operations because of the fire."

The fire started at around 6:54 a.m. on the 18th at Coupang's No. 32 logistics center in Seoknam-dong, Seohae District, and has still not been fully extinguished three days later. Fire authorities are continuing the operation with 231 pieces of equipment and 812 personnel, including firefighters, while maintaining the national fire mobilization order issued on the afternoon of the day the fire broke out.

This is not the first time a fire at a logistics center has proved difficult to contain. In June 2021, a fire at Coupang's Deokpyeong logistics center in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, took six days to extinguish completely because of the large interior space and the large amount of combustible cargo. At the time, Fire Captain Kim Dong-sik of the Gwangju Fire Station's 119 Rescue Team entered the building to save lives, became trapped, and died in the line of duty.

Fire officials commonly point out that large logistics warehouses have high ceilings and shelves packed with highly flammable items such as household goods, which create heavy smoke and make it difficult for crews to enter. This fire is also expected to take a long time to extinguish, as concerns have been raised about the possibility of collapse.

[email protected] Reporter Han Gap-su Reporter