Not the Usual Route... Why the 747 Bus Suffered a Tragic Accident in the Underpass

The Cheongju 747 express bus trapped in the Gungpyeong No. 2 Underpass (Osong Underpass) in Cheongju, Chungbuk, was found to have changed its route due to flooding and subsequently became stranded.

The original route of bus 747 was between Cheongju International Airport, the Express Bus Terminal, Chungcheong University, and Osong Station. The Osong Underpass was not part of its usual route.

At around 8:20 a.m. on the 15th, Cheongju Osong Gungpyeong 2nd Underpass was flooding. On the left, the 747 express bus can be seen.
[Photo by Online Community]

Cheongju City identified that the bus driver, who was operating from downtown toward Gangnae-myeon, turned the bus around 8:20 a.m. at the Gangsangchon Intersection on the 3rd Ring Road and drove toward the Cheongju Station junction.

Before the accident occurred, on the morning of the 15th, flooding happened in Gangnae-myeon, restricting traffic around the Tapyunsamgeori area.

Due to continuous heavy rain over two days, the low-lying area of Gangnae-myeon was flooded, and from 5:30 a.m. that day, the road was closed at Tapyunsamgeori, leading to a detour. At that time, many vehicles turned around in front of Tapyunsamgeori due to traffic control.

The bus entered the underpass, where authorities had not imposed traffic control, and seemed to have exited the exit relatively smoothly, but it could not avoid the floodwaters that surged into the underpass like a tsunami due to the collapse of the Miho River embankment.

Cheongju City estimated, through the boarding and alighting system, that about 10 people, including the driver, were on the bus at the time of the accident. This estimate closely matches the testimony of a passenger who clung to the railing and was dramatically rescued. This passenger reportedly stated, "There were 8 passengers and 1 driver on the bus, but I don't know if they escaped."

On the 16th, 119 rescue workers are searching for missing persons at Gungpyeong 2 Underpass in Osong-eup, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, which was flooded due to the collapse of the Miho River embankment.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to the police's CCTV analysis, one bus, two trucks, and twelve passenger cars were trapped in the underpass.

Earlier, at around 8:40 a.m. the previous day, at the Gungpyeong No. 2 Underpass in Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju City, 15 vehicles including city buses were submerged due to river water that flowed in after the nearby Miho River embankment burst.

As of 2 p.m. on the 16th, the confirmed casualties related to this accident were 9 dead and 9 injured. Authorities are continuing drainage and search operations at the accident site.

The drainage and search operations involved 399 personnel including soldiers, police, firefighters, and related officials, along with 65 pieces of equipment.