At least 5 dead in Gwacheon overpass fire
來源：開云體育app官方網站發布日期：2023-01-21 04:15:22 瀏覽：7
 |
| A covered overpass of an expressway in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, is on fire Thursday afternoon, killing at least five people and injuring nearly 40 others. Yonhap |
By Lee Hyo-jin
A fire broke out in a covered overpass of an expressway in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday afternoon, killing at least five people and injuring nearly 40 others.
The blaze started at 1:49 p.m. in a covered section of the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway after a bus collided with a cargo truck, according to the fire department. Videos posted on social media showed plumes of smoke and huge flames at the scene of the accident. The fire prompted dozens of drivers and passengers in vehicles inside the covered overpass to evacuate.
As of 4 p.m., five people were found dead, while more 39 were injured. The authorities initially announced the death toll to be six, but reduced it to five a few hours later citing a counting error. The bodies were discovered in burnt-out vehicles inside the covered overpass.
Of the injured victims, three were seriously wounded and others are receiving treatment after inhaling smoke.
 |
| The canopy of an elevated overpass in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, was damaged from a fire on Thursday afternoon. Yonhap |
The fire agency issued a Level 1 response at 2:10 p.m., some 20 minutes after it received the initial report, and then raised it to Level 2 some 10 minutes later. Around 2:34 p.m., it lowered the response level back to Level 1 as the fire had been largely extinguished.
About 77 fire trucks, 190 firefighters and a helicopter were deployed to the scene. Some 200 reports were filed to emergency call number 119 by people nearby.
After completely extinguishing the fire, the police and fire authorities will investigate to find the exact cause of the fire.
 |
| Firefighters put out a fire at a covered overpass in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. Yonhap |