Fire in Noise Barrier Tunnel on 2nd Gyeongin Expressway, Started from Waste Grab Truck?

Soundproof Tunnel Fire Site on the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway Photo by Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The fire that occurred on the 29th in the soundproof tunnel on the '2nd Gyeongin Expressway' in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, which resulted in 5 deaths and 37 injuries, is increasingly believed to have started when sparks from a collision between a bus and a truck spread to a waste grapple truck.

According to the Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters, at 1:49 PM that day, an unknown fire broke out in a waste grapple truck passing through the soundproof tunnel at Galhyeon Overpass on the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway heading toward Seongnam in Galhyeon-dong, Gwacheon-si.

The fire quickly spread to the soundproof tunnel, which was constructed with flammable materials, engulfing a section of the tunnel extending hundreds of meters in flames.

However, the fire authorities are also investigating the possibility that the fire was caused by a collision accident between the truck and the bus, a single-vehicle accident involving the truck, or spontaneous combustion.

A fire official responded at the scene briefing that "further confirmation is needed" regarding the cause of the fire.

Meanwhile, the fire resulted in 5 deaths and 37 injuries. Among the injured, 3 suffered serious burns to the face. The deceased were reportedly found in 4 passenger cars, with 1 to 2 people in each vehicle.

Additionally, 45 vehicles inside the soundproof tunnel were destroyed by the fire.

The fire authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the fire once the search and rescue operations are completed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.