In brief
A severe collision involving at least 50 vehicles occurred on the Kan-etsu Expressway in Minakami, Japan, leading to the deaths of two individuals, including a 77-year-old woman. The incident, which started with a crash between two trucks, ignited a fire that affected multiple vehicles. Authorities reported 26 injuries, with five individuals in serious condition. Heavy snowfall and icy roads contributed to the tragedy, prompting a safety warning from highway operators.
A pile-up involving at least 50 vehicles on a highway in central Japan has left two people dead and 26 injured, according to police.
The incident was caused by a crash between two trucks, sparking a chain reaction that set at least 10 vehicles on fire, local police said.
A 77-year-old woman from Tokyo was killed, and another body was discovered in the driver's seat of a burnt-out truck. Five people were seriously injured and 21 suffered minor injuries, police said.
At the time of the crash, there was a heavy snow warning in place. Authorities believe that icy surfaces likely caused the trucks to skid on the roads.
The crash occurred on the Kan-etsu Expressway in Minakami, Gunma prefecture, about 160 km (100 miles) northwest of Tokyo, at around 19:30 local time (10:30 GMT) on December 26.
Firefighters took approximately seven and a half hours to extinguish the flames.
Following the accident, the section of the highway was closed, leaving a long line of vehicles, many charred beyond recognition, stranded in the outbound lane. Recovery efforts are currently ongoing to clear the road.
A man in his 60s, whose vehicle was involved in the accident, described hearing a loud explosion followed by flames spreading to surrounding vehicles.
He mentioned being evacuated to a nearby toll gate with around 50 others, spending the night there for safety.
Nexco, the highway operator, stated that a thorough inspection is needed to assess any damage to the road surface caused by the fire, urging travelers to avoid using the highway until further notice.