A traffic accident involving a van, a bus, and a passenger car occurred in Ansan, South Korea, on Saturday morning, resulting in the deaths of five people and injuries to nine others.

The incident took place around 5:45 a.m. local time (2045 GMT Friday) when a van carrying day laborers collided with a bus at an intersection. The impact caused the van to bounce off and strike a passenger car waiting on the opposite lane.

Five of the laborers in the van were fatally injured and transported to a nearby hospital. The Chinese embassy in South Korea confirmed that at least one of the victims was a Chinese national.

Seven other people in the van, including the driver, were injured, and two individuals in the passenger car sustained injuries. One of the injured persons is reported to be in critical condition.

Local police suspect that the van may have violated a traffic signal at the intersection and are investigating the exact cause of the accident. (ILKHA)