At least two people were killed and 26 others injured after a massive chain reaction crash involving about 50 vehicles on a major highway in central Japan, police said on Thursday.
The pile up occurred after two trucks collided on an icy stretch of road, triggering a series of secondary crashes and fires that engulfed multiple vehicles. Authorities said at least 10 vehicles were set ablaze in the incident.
Police confirmed that a 77 year old woman from Tokyo was among those killed. A second body was later found inside the cab of a burned out truck. Five people suffered serious injuries, while 21 others were treated for minor wounds.
The crash happened around 7.30 pm local time on December 26 on the Kan etsu Expressway in Minakami, Gunma prefecture, roughly 160 kilometers northwest of Tokyo. A heavy snow warning was in effect at the time, and investigators believe icy road conditions caused the trucks to skid.
Firefighters worked for more than seven hours to bring the blaze under control, police said.
A section of the expressway was closed following the accident, leaving dozens of vehicles stranded in the outbound lanes. Many were left badly damaged or completely burned out. Crews are now working to tow the vehicles away and assess the condition of the roadway.
Nexco, the company that operates the expressway, said inspections were needed to determine whether the road surface had been damaged by the prolonged fire. Drivers have been advised to avoid the route until further notice.
Read Also: Japan Set To Restart Biggest Nuclear Plant After Fukushima
One man in his 60s whose vehicle was caught in the crash told public broadcaster NHK that he heard a loud explosion from the far end of the pile up before seeing flames spread rapidly.
He said he and about 50 others were evacuated to a nearby toll gate, where they spent the night sheltered inside the building.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and urged motorists to take extra caution as winter weather continues to affect large parts of the region.