Two people died and 26 were injured in a 50-vehicle pile-up on a highway in central Japan. The incident occurred on the Kan-etsu Expressway in Minakami, Gunma prefecture, approximately 160km northwest of Tokyo. The crash happened around 19:30 local time (10:30 GMT) on December 26.

The pile-up started when two trucks collided, triggering a chain reaction. At least ten vehicles caught fire. A 77-year-old woman from Tokyo died. Another body was found in a burnt-out truck. Five people sustained serious injuries, and 21 suffered minor injuries.

Heavy snow warnings were in effect. Police suspect icy road surfaces caused the initial trucks to skid. Firefighters took seven and a half hours to extinguish the blaze.

A section of the highway closed following the incident. Many vehicles, severely charred, remained stuck in the outbound lane. Towing operations are underway.

Authorities will investigate the precise cause of the initial collision. The closed section of the highway will reopen after the removal of all vehicles and safety inspections.