In the early morning of January 26th, a truck caught fire and exploded inside a tunnel on a highway in Chongqing, with multiple people being sent to the hospital.
Several videos circulating online show that on the morning of the 26th, a truck caught fire inside the Yurong Mountain Tunnel of Chongqing Yurong Expressway, accompanied by explosions. Subsequently, the blaze intensified, filling the entire tunnel with thick smoke, causing a long line of vehicles outside the tunnel.
According to comments from local netizens on the videos, the truck was loaded with “inflammable and explosive materials” and there were three explosions. “My uncle was burned by the fire in the tunnel, with his entire head and hands burned. He is currently in the burns ward of the Southwest Hospital of the Army Medical University of Chongqing. He just underwent surgery this afternoon, and we, the relatives, cannot see him yet; we have to wait.”
As reported by Qi Lu Evening News’s “Surely Video,” an eyewitness recalled that there was a strong shock during the incident, and the smoke inside the tunnel was up to knee level, making it impossible for vehicles to turn around. People could only get out of the vehicles and run back. During the escape, they had to crouch to breathe through the gaps in the drain covers, taking a breath and running a distance, eventually reaching the opposite carriageway through a cross passage for rescue.
At noon on the 26th, the Emergency Response Bureau of Bishan District responded that those who inhaled smoke and dust had been taken to the hospital, with no reports of casualties so far.
The Chongqing highway department stated that the open flames had been extinguished, but traffic control measures were still in place, while the investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.