Massive Fire Traps Vehicles Inside A Tunnel At Gwacheon City

They are working quickly to resolve the situation.

On December 29 at around 2 PM KST, a fire broke out near the North Uiwang IC of the second Gyeongin Expressway in Galhyeon-dong, Gwacheon-si of the Gyeonggi province. The fire authorities issued the second stage of fire response and sent in forces to resolve the situation quickly and efficiently.

A fire in the tunnel near the North Uiwang IC of the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway | photo sent in from a Joongang Daily reader/The Joongang Daily

A fire broke out after a bus and truck traffic accident. It is understood that the embers later spread to the tunnel. The fire department received the report around 1:50 PM KST and arrived at the scene 18 minutes later at 2:08 PM KST. The first stage of response was issued three minutes later. At 2:22 PM KST, eleven minutes later, the second stage of response was issued.

The fire department announced two confirmed dead, two seriously injured, and 15 minor injuries. As of 3 PM KST, they are expecting casualties to rise.

Up to now, 50 units of equipment, such as pump cars, 140 firefighters, and firefighter helicopters, have been deployed to extinguish the fire. The Gwacheon Fire Station stated, “We are responding by mobilizing 140 personnel in 55 command vehicles.”

Source: joongang