On December 29 at approximately 1:49 PM KST, a massive fire swept a tunneled segment of an expressway near Galhyeon-dong, Gwacheon city, killing 5 and injuring 37. 

The fire, believed to have originated from a large waste collection truck, quickly spread after it caught onto the sound proof covering of the tunneled expressway. According to reports, the covering quickly caught on fire due to the fact that it was made of polycarbonate material.

Due to heavy traffic inside the tunnel, approximately 45 vehicles remained immobile at the scene of the fire. The fire, which quickly spread over the sound proof covering, also caused waves of black smoke to emerge from the tunnel, and many of the civilians who abandoned their vehicles to escape the scene were forced to inhale the heavy smoke. Accounts from the site also reported "drops of fiery rain" inside the tunnel, as the polycarbonate covering melted away, leaving only a thin frame in the aftermath. 

Firefighters were able to put out the brunt of the fire by 4:12 PM KST, approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes after it initially broke out. 

Watch footage from the scene, below.