A fire at a Coupang logistics center in Incheon, South Korea, has continued to burn for three days [1].

The situation is critical because the presence of high-capacity batteries increases the risk of a catastrophic structural failure. Firefighters are struggling to contain the blaze, which threatens to engulf the entire facility if it spreads further.

Authorities said that hundreds of robots powered by lithium-ion batteries are located on the fifth floor of the building [1]. These robots create a significant hazard due to the volatile nature of lithium-ion cells when exposed to high heat. The combined battery capacity of these robots is estimated to be equivalent to 20 large lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles [1].

Fire authorities said that they are deploying personnel to block the fire from spreading to the fifth floor, as such an escalation could lead to the total destruction of the building [1]. The concentrated energy source on the upper level makes traditional extinguishing methods more difficult and increases the likelihood of rapid fire spread.

Coupang, a major South Korean e-commerce company, utilizes these automated systems to manage its vast inventory. The Incheon center is a primary hub for the company's delivery operations. The ongoing fire has disrupted these activities and forced emergency teams to prioritize the prevention of a total collapse over immediate extinguishment of the core fire [1].

Emergency crews remain on site, monitoring the structural integrity of the warehouse, and attempting to isolate the lithium-ion hazards [1].

“The combined battery capacity of these robots is estimated to be equivalent to 20 large lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles.”

This incident highlights the growing safety challenges associated with large-scale automation in logistics. The 'thermal runaway' potential of hundreds of lithium-ion batteries in a single location creates a fire load that can overwhelm standard warehouse suppression systems, potentially turning a localized fire into a total loss of infrastructure.