<Anchor>
On the afternoon of yesterday (29th), a large fire broke out in a soundproof tunnel on the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do, killing 5 people and injuring more than 30 others.
The police formed an investigation headquarters and conducted a joint on-site identification today.
Reporter Park Chan-geun reports.
<Reporter> A red-
hot pillar of fire rises.
The ceiling melts in the scorching heat and sparks fall.
At around 1:50 p.m. yesterday, a fire broke out in a soundproof tunnel near the Bukuiwang Interchange on the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do.
[Nearby residents: The fire is too big.
There is too much smoke.]
It is estimated that the fire first broke out in a recycling waste collection truck running on the highway, and quickly spread to the opposite lane as it moved to the ceiling of the tunnel.
[Nam Seung-hyeon/Gwacheon Fire Station Disaster Safety Manager: A fire broke out in a forklift that was driving in the direction of Seongnam, Anyang, and the fire was transferred to the tunnel reinforced plastic and expanded the combustion.]
[Jang Jun-gyu/witness: I heard a popping sound like a bomb exploding and a tire burst. It's a sound, but dozens of cars aren't supposed to be in it.]
A total of 46 cars were burned, and five people were found dead in four of them.
Thirty-seven people are receiving hospital treatment for large and small injuries.
The police set out to identify the cause of the accident by forming an investigation headquarters jointly headed by the head of the Gyeonggi Southern Office investigation department and the head of the local government.
A waste truck driver was also recruited.
Currently, it is estimated that the number of deaths increased as a second collision occurred as the tunnel was filled with smoke.
The police and fire authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the fire by conducting a joint on-site identification from 10:30 am today.
(Video coverage: Hwang In-seok, Video editing: Lee Seung-jin)