Seoul, Nov 17 (NationPress) A devastating chain-reaction collision involving 13 vehicles, including a tank truck, transpired on an expressway in the southeastern city of Yeongcheon early Monday morning, resulting in the loss of two lives and leaving four others injured.

The series of rear-end collisions took place on a bridge near the Shinnyeong interchange on the Sangju-Yeongcheon expressway, approximately 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at 3:12 a.m. The incident began when a 26-ton tank truck loaded with 24,000 liters of bunker C oil collided with a 25-ton cargo truck, as reported by police.

Subsequently, a 14-tonne truck struck the tank truck, igniting a chain reaction that involved seven additional vehicles, including passenger cars and a bus, as per the Yonhap News Agency.

Moreover, several H beams that had fallen from one of the trucks onto the opposite lane led to further collisions involving a passenger car, another tank truck, and a 13-ton cargo truck, which were trying to evade the fallen debris.

Authorities confirmed that two drivers from passenger cars and one truck driver tragically lost their lives, while four other individuals sustained injuries. Fortunately, around 20 passengers aboard the bus were unharmed.

The incident sparked fires in three vehicles—a tank truck, a 14-ton cargo truck, and a 2.5-ton cargo truck—which were successfully extinguished within two hours and thirty minutes.

Police noted that oil from one of the tank trucks seeped into nearby rice paddies and waterways.

In related news, South Korea's Prime Minister Kim Min-seok directed the Seoul city government to undertake a joint investigation with the interior ministry regarding a recent river bus accident and to formulate necessary safety protocols.

On Saturday, a boat operating on the water bus service along the Han River became stranded near a dock in southeastern Seoul while navigating shallow waters. All 82 passengers on board were safely rescued by police and fire services.

Kim voiced serious concerns regarding the overall safety of the service, questioning whether the Seoul city government had considered topographical factors when selecting stop locations and operational routes, according to statements from Kim's office.

In an official statement, the city government expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the public and committed to conducting a more thorough inspection of operations. All safety response measures were reportedly implemented following the incident.

The water bus service, a significant initiative introduced by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, has faced scrutiny over its safety, primarily from the ruling bloc.