Seoul: Five individuals lost their lives on Saturday in multiple highway accidents in North Gyeongsang Province, with authorities suspecting black ice as the cause. The tragic incidents unfolded in the southeastern region of the province, leading to significant disruptions and fatalities.

According to Yonhap News Agency, one of the accidents occurred at 6:20 a.m. near an interchange on the Seosan-Yeongdeok Expressway in the Sangju section. A truck, in an attempt to avoid a stationary vehicle, collided with a guardrail and subsequently tumbled off the road, resulting in the death of the truck driver.

In addition to this, another accident involved a sedan in which all four occupants were killed. Authorities are currently investigating the possibility of this crash being connected to a separate pileup involving a trailer vehicle reported in the vicinity.

A separate incident saw a sport utility vehicle burst into flames following a collision with a truck and subsequent impact with a guardrail near the interchange at 6:35 a.m. The series of accidents, which involved over 20 vehicles, left several individuals injured and resulted in a death toll of five as of 11 a.m.

The accidents prompted temporary traffic restrictions on certain sections of the highway. Investigations are ongoing, with authorities focusing on the likelihood that black ice, formed from frozen snow or rain, played a significant role in these accidents.