Two people died and 26 were injured in a massive pile-up on a highway in central Japan. The 50-vehicle crash occurred on the Kan-etsu Expressway in Minakami, Gunma prefecture. The location is about 160km northwest of Tokyo.
The incident happened around 7:30 PM local time on December 26. Two trucks initially collided, triggering a chain reaction. At least 10 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. Twenty-one others suffered minor injuries.
The crash prompted the closure of a section of the highway. Many vehicles, severely charred, remained stuck. Towing operations are underway.
A heavy snow warning was in effect at the time. Police suspect icy road conditions caused the initial truck skids. Firefighters spent seven and a half hours extinguishing the blaze.
Authorities are investigating the precise cause of the accident. The closed section of the highway will remain shut until the wreckage is cleared.
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