Five dead after fire breaks out in tunnel on Korean expressway

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Five dead after fire breaks out in tunnel on Korean expressway

Published: 29 Dec. 2022, 14:55 Updated: 29 Dec. 2022, 19:39

A fire broke out near the North Uiwang Interchange on the Gyeongin Expressway in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi. [YONHAP]

Five people died in a fire that broke out near the North Uiwang Interchange on the Gyeongin Expressway in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, on Thursday afternoon.

The fire started inside noise-barrier tunnel, approximately 830 meters (2,723 feet) in length, covering the Second Gyeongin Expressway, which connects Incheon and Seongnam in Gyeonggi.

It may have been the result of a bus and a garbage truck colliding or the garbage truck catching fire on its own.

The fire department received an emergency report at 1:49 p.m. The main body of the fire was brought under control after an hour and 30 minutes, according to fire authorities.

The fire was completely extinguished at 4:12 p.m.

All five casualties were found in cars that were near the truck when the fire broke out, according to Gyeonggi Disaster and Safety Headquarters.

The garbage truck that may have caused the fire [YONHAP]

As of Thursday evening, 37 people were injured, and three are in critical condition. Most with minor injuries were treated at the site.

President Yoon Suk-yeol on Thursday afternoon advised the government to thoroughly investigate the accident site so that no further casualties will be found.

Yoon also called for the offering of medical assistance to those who are rescued and an investigation into the cause of the fire.

The death toll and number of injuries may rise, according to fire authorities.

Tunnel on fire. A total of 94 fire trucks and 219 firefighters were sent to put out the fire.[YONHAP]

One driver who was on the expressway 15 minutes after the fire broke out entered the tunnel because the fire seemed small at the time, according to a Yonhap report.

According to the witness, the fire spread rapidly and some people started escaping the tunnel by driving in reverse, while some were not able to escape.

A total of 45 automobiles have been found to have been burnt in the tunnel area, according to fire authorities.

As the fire was put out, the police blocked both entrances of the tunnel and guided drivers to use different routes. The normal operation of the noise-barrier tunnel may take days, according to Gwacheon Metropolitan Government.

Around 200 drivers and passersby called the 119 emergency hotline. A total of 94 fire trucks and 219 firefighters were sent to put out the fire. Helicopters were also sent.

The police and fire departments are further investigating the cause of the fire and searching for possible victims.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]