[Anchor]

Today, July 17, the first day of the Constitution Day holiday, a fire broke out following a traffic accident in the Daegwallyeong Tunnel on the Yeongdong Expressway. Four vehicles were involved in a pileup, which subsequently led to a fire. Fortunately, there were no injuries, but both directions toward Incheon and Gangneung were temporarily closed for accident cleanup. This caused severe traffic congestion, inconveniencing vacationers heading to the east coast.

We begin with this report from Dong Eunyeong.

[Reporter]

Earlier today, inside the Daegwallyeong Tunnel No. 4 toward Gangneung on the Yeongdong Expressway.

Vehicles are stopped with their hazard lights on, but following cars fail to slow down in time, leading to a series of collisions.

A person from one of the involved vehicles gets out and tries to signal other cars to turn back. Less than three minutes later, bright red flames erupt from one of the crashed vehicles.

In an instant, the inside of the tunnel is filled with smoke so thick the entrance is no longer visible, and black smoke billows out from the tunnel continuously.

The fire report from the tunnel was received around 11:50 a.m. today.

[Witness: It was emitting smoke from the engine room. As I passed by, I could really feel the heat. (The driver involved in the accident) was shouting at the cars in front to get out of the way...]

Police and fire authorities determined that a van rear-ended a passenger car ahead, and a following SUV and another passenger car subsequently struck the stationary van, with the fire then starting in the SUV.

All 16 people who were in the vehicles managed to escape the tunnel immediately after the accident, and no injuries were reported.

Fire authorities issued a Level 1 response 30 minutes after receiving the report, and upgraded it to a Level 2 response 10 minutes later. It is reported that because the tunnel was filled with smoke, making it difficult for fire trucks to enter, firefighters had to walk inside to carry out extinguishing operations.

The fire was put out in an hour and a half, but both directions toward Gangneung and Incheon were fully closed for the firefighting efforts, causing severe traffic congestion on the road.

[Choi Gwang-seok / Wonju, Gangwon Province: The sign board said there was smoke in the tunnel and an accident occurred. I am waiting. I am not sure if I should take a detour or keep going.]

Police stated that no signs of alcohol or drug use were found in the drivers involved in the accident, and it appears the crash was caused by a failure to pay attention to the road ahead due to traffic congestion.

(Video coverage: Won Jong-chan, G1 Broadcasting | Video editing: Kim Yun-seong | Footage provided by: Korea Expressway Corporation, Gangwon State Fire Headquarters)