A massive pile-up involving 56 vehicles on a major highway in Gunma prefecture in central Japan has left one person dead and 26 injured, Japanese broadcaster NTV reported on Saturday (December 27).

Police said the pile-up on the Kan-etsu Expressway in Minakami happened at around 7:30 p.m. (1030 GMT) on Friday (December 26) when two trucks skidded and collided on the icy road surface, leading to the large chain reaction with over 10 vehicles catching fire.

A 77-year-old woman from Chofu in western Tokyo died in the accident, police said.

A section of the highway was subsequently closed, with a long line of vehicles, many charred beyond recognition, stuck in the outbound lane. Travellers between the Kanto and Niigata regions have been urged to use alternative routes as reopening the road would take a considerable amount of time, according to NTV.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. LONG LINE OF DAMAGED AND BURNT VEHICLES ON HIGHWAY / AUDIO OF REPORTER (NOT SEEN ON CAMERA): “This is the scene of the accident on the Kan-Etsu Expressway. Cars have burned beyond the point of recognition.” / POLICE STANDING NEXT TO BURNT VEHICLES

2. VARIOUS OF BURNED VEHICLES

3. GUNMA POLICE OFFICER INVESTIGATING ACCIDENT SITE

4. POLICE INVESTIGATING ACCIDENT SITE / BURNED VEHICLES

5. BADLY BURNED VEHICLE

6. FIREFIGHTER SPRAYING WATER

7. BURNED VEHICLE / BURNED ROAD SIGN

8. FIREFIGHTERS AT SITE

9. VARIOUS OF BURNED VEHICLES

10. OFFICERS WORKING AT ACCIDENT SITE