OSAKA -- A fire broke out on a 2-ton truck carrying plastic products as it was traveling through a tunnel in Osaka Prefecture on Thursday, injuring 18 people.
Of the injured, 11 were people in other vehicles going through the tunnel and six were firefighters who inhaled toxic fumes from the burning plastic, police said. The truck's driver sustained burns on his right hand.
One of the injured is in serious condition, police said.
The fire started at around 10:30 a.m. when the truck, driven by Masataka Furuya, 30, was traveling through the tunnel, located on the border of Osaka and Nara prefectures, police said.
The fire was extinguished shortly before noon.
Police closed the tunnel after the incident and are investigating the cause of the fire.
Furuya said flames suddenly broke out near his feet while he was driving.
He said he stopped and got out of the truck, asked another motorist to take him outside of the tunnel and then contacted police.
When the fire engulfed the truck, 12 other vehicles were still inside the tunnel, police said.