Soundproof Tunnel Fire Witness: "After a 'Pung' Sound, the Blaze Engulfed"

5 Dead, 37 Injured
"Flames Spread Instantly, Ran Out Using Last Strength"

On the afternoon of the 29th, a truck that initially caught fire is parked ablaze on the Galhyeon Overpass of the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway near Gwacheon Knowledge Information Town in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] On the 29th, a major fire broke out following a collision between a bus and a truck inside the soundproof tunnel on the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, with vivid eyewitness accounts continuing to emerge. Eyewitnesses at the fire scene reported that after hearing a 'bang' explosion sound, the inside of the tunnel was instantly covered in thick black smoke, describing the tense situation.

Eyewitness to the tunnel fire, Lee Hyunseok, said in an interview with JTBC on the day, "The soundproof tunnel is very long. When the vehicle entered the tunnel, visibility was much worse than usual. As I got closer, it felt strange, so I slightly opened the door and smelled a faint sour fire odor."

Mr. Lee said, "As I went further in, the front became white and invisible, and shortly after, with a 'bang' sound, the white smoke instantly turned into black smoke. The situation was that they asked us not to abandon the cars and to stay put so that fire trucks could enter, but at that moment, the fire was right in front of my eyes." He added, "I was so shocked that I ran out with all my remaining strength. I walked and ran about 200 meters. Fortunately, there was a work ladder next to the window, so I was able to escape through it."

Another fire eyewitness, Ha Youngryang, said in an interview with YTN News Q, "Suddenly, there were 'bang bang bang' explosion sounds, and the fire seemed to be growing closer to us." He added, "Starting from the car in front, the reverse lights came on one after another, and although slow, we tried to reverse little by little." Mr. Ha, who was on the opposite side of the expressway's northbound direction where the accident occurred, explained, "After a while, they opened the central divider, and (firefighters) guided us toward the divider. Cars reversed against traffic to get out of the divider and crossed over to the opposite lane."

According to police and fire authorities, the fire started around 1:49 PM that day due to a collision between a bus and a truck running through the soundproof tunnel. The flames quickly spread through the tunnel, growing uncontrollably. The fire resulted in 5 deaths and 37 people sustaining serious and moderate injuries. The fire was extinguished around 4 PM, about two hours after it started.