Two dead, 18 hurt in South Korea after truck crashes into market, media reports say


SEOUL (Reuters) -A light truck crashed into a market in South Korea on Thursday, ploughing 150 metres (164 yards) along a passageway lined with stalls before coming to a halt, killing two people and injuring 18, according to emergency officials and media reports.

The incident took place at a market located in Bucheon, about 20 km (12.43 miles) west of the capital Seoul, a fire official told a televised briefing.

Two people who had suffered cardiac arrest were later confirmed to have died, the Yonhap News Agency said.

The truck appeared to reverse for 28 metres before accelerating towards the outdoor market, the fire official said.

The driver had blamed a sudden surge of acceleration for the incident, he said.

The driver was not intoxicated when tested for alcohol, a police official said at the briefing.

Authorities would hand the vehicle over to investigators to try to determine the cause of the crash, the official said.

CCTV footage aired on Korean television showed shoppers going about their business at an outdoor market before a blue truck accelerated along a passageway lined by stalls and crashed into one of the stores.

Police had arrested the driver who was in his 60s and he was being questioned, Yonhap said.

(Reporting by Jack Kim and Heejin KimEditing by Ed Davies)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Hungary election polls show opposition Tisza widening lead over Orban's Fidesz
Romania, Ukraine advance talks on EU-funded joint drone production
Australia PM Albanese to address nation over Iran crisis
Airline Emirates says Iranian nationals barred from entering or transiting UAE
South Korea and Indonesia discuss energy security, sign agreements on minerals and tech
Trump: US forces to leave Iran within ‘two to three weeks’
Haiti gangs keep up attacks in breadbasket region after massacre
U.S. F-35 fighter jet crashes in Nevada, pilot safe
Russian military transport plane crashes in Crimea, killing 29, defence ministry says
Trump says government will have to 'force ourselves' on Los Angeles during World Cup

Others Also Read