30 Vehicles Including Tanker Collide in Samae 1·2 Tunnel... Toxic Gases Like Nitric Acid Released Inside Tunnel
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-gi]On the 17th, heavy snowfall in the Jeonbuk region led to a fire caused by a multi-vehicle collision in a tunnel on the Suncheon-Wanju Expressway, resulting in over 40 casualties.
According to the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency and Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters, at around 12:23 PM that day, more than 30 vehicles including a 24-ton tanker lorry, trailers, and cargo trucks collided consecutively in the Namwon Samae 2 Tunnel on the northbound lane of the Suncheon-Wanju Expressway. Around the same time, five vehicles including passenger cars collided one after another in the Samae 1 Tunnel on the northbound lane.
The accident resulted in the deaths of three people, including the tanker lorry driver, and 43 others were injured. Among the injured, six are reported to be in serious condition. The injured have been transported to nearby medical facilities including Namwon Medical Center, Daejan Hospital in Jeonju, Chonnam National University Hospital, and Imsil Health and Medical Center for treatment.
Due to the impact of the accident, the tanker lorry carrying 18,000 liters of nitric acid (HNO3) caught fire, covering the area around the tunnel with black toxic gas. Nitric acid is a highly corrosive and oxidizing substance that is very harmful to the human body. The exact amount of nitric acid leakage has not yet been confirmed, according to the fire authorities.
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