According to witnesses, one train was hit from the rear by another incoming train while leaving Sangwangsimni station in the east of Seoul. Another witness said many passengers forced the doors open and escaped onto the tracks after ignoring the onboard announcement which told them to stay inside the cars. The decision by many passengers to ignore instructions was likely due to distrust in authorities after the Sinking of MV Sewol and Daegu subway fire, where instructions to remain onboard resulted in several fatalities.