Three people were killed and 21 were injured in a tunnel fire caused by bus accidents at around 1:30 p.m. local time Monday, local media reported.

The fire had trapped hundreds of passengers and there are still 12 of them waiting for rescue.

Cars collided and an unidentified number of cars caught the fire in the tunnel to avert a passenger car having its tire punctured. The tunnel, which is part of a south-to-north highway linking Yilan to Taipei, is about 55 km to the southeast of Taipei City.

Fire had been put out about 40 minutes after the accident, according to local media. TV footage shows the tunnel is still being shrouded by heavy smoke and traffic has been suspended.