【Epoch Times News: February 24, 2026】On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, on February 23, a truck suddenly caught fire in the Guojiashan Tunnel on the Guangshan section of the G5 Beijing-Kunming Expressway (heading towards Sichuan), with a loud bang heard and billowing black smoke inside the tunnel. People were frightened and abandoned their vehicles, fleeing quickly towards the tunnel entrance. The Sichuan authorities later reported that the truck caught fire spontaneously, with no casualties.
A viral video showed the tunnel packed with vehicles, as many people abandoned their vehicles to escape towards the exit, asking each other what was happening.
According to eyewitnesses who left the scene early, on the G5 Beijing-Kunming Expressway, inside the Guojiashan Tunnel, many vehicles suddenly stopped, horns blared in front, a large truck caught fire, thick smoke billowed, without much thought, they stepped on the gas pedal and rushed past. About 800 meters out of the tunnel, there was a loud bang, almost being trapped inside.
Some people expressed, “It was so terrifying.” “If you don’t understand, ask. How was the loud noise caused?” “If it’s not an explosion, then what was the loud noise?” “The car exploded in the Guojiashan Tunnel, with people running out, and the cars left inside the tunnel. Blessed with safety.” “Since everything was on fire, who knows if there will be an explosion at the back, running is the right thing to do.” “Evacuation is the right thing to do, fearing the unknown is not a bad thing!”
Some people posted videos confirming their safety, saying they didn’t even have time to put on their shoes when the incident occurred, they just grabbed their child and ran out.
The mainland media “Xiaoxiang Morning News” reported in the afternoon of the 23rd that on the morning of the same day, a truck caught fire in the Guojiashan Tunnel on the Guangshan section of the G5 Beijing-Kunming Expressway. Witness Mr. Liu (pseudonym) stated that the incident occurred around 11 a.m., he was a few cars behind the truck that caught fire. Initially, he heard three loud noises, then felt the tunnel shaking, and the cars began to sway.
Mr. Liu said that due to not knowing the situation and fearing an explosion, he immediately got out of the car to escape. The tunnel is about 2000 meters long. After running out of the tunnel mouth, he saw the fire department had arrived on the scene to clear the area.
He mentioned that there were many rear-end collisions inside the tunnel, and his car was also involved in a collision.
In the afternoon of February 23, Sichuan Provincial Police issued a notification, stating that around 10:50 a.m., a truck carrying fruit caught fire inside the Guojiashan Tunnel at kilometer 1483 of the G5 Beijing-Kunming Expressway (heading out of Sichuan). The police reported that the visible fire on the scene had been extinguished, with no casualties, no people stranded on-site. The traffic flow on the opposite lane (towards Sichuan) resumed normal at 14:50, and further investigation into the cause of the truck’s self-ignition is underway.