Breaking News: At least 85 sustain injuries in 5-vehicle pile-up near Hong Kong tunnel

A five-vehicle pile-up on Friday afternoon near the Kwun Tong tunnel entrance on Tseung Kwan O Tunnel Road left more than 85 people injured, with a government spokeswoman saying at least 70 people sustained minor injuries in the incident and another 15 were seriously hurt.

The collision, which occurred shortly before 1 pm, involved a truck and four coaches. While some of the injured were rushed for emergency treatment to United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong, schoolchildren were seen receiving care from paramedics at the scene.

The accident occurred on the second lane of the four-lane carriageway when the five vehicles were shunted into each other. One of the drivers whose coach was part of the pile-up said he was following the lead vehicle when it came to an abrupt stop, but those behind him had failed to bring their vehicles to a halt and slammed his bus into the one in front.

The man, who was unhurt in the accident, was bringing pupils back to school from an outing in Ma On Shan.

A girl described the incident saying she saw the vehicle in front suddenly come to a halt before the coach she was in slammed into it. She complained of pain in her left hand and informed how teachers comforted some of the pupils crying and some screaming.

Shortly before 2 pm, firefighters were seen carrying a woman with a bandaged right hand from a coach and placing her on a stretcher.

Officers said no one was trapped in the vehicles. The incident is still being investigated and drivers have been advised to use alternative routes as all Tseung Kwan O-bound lanes of Tsueng Kwan O Road are temporarily closed to traffic.