The multi-vehicle collision occurred on the evening of 26/12/2024, on a 300-meter stretch of the outbound Kan-etsu Expressway near Minakami town, Gunma prefecture. The pile-up involved 67 vehicles, resulting in two fatalities and 26 injuries. A fire broke out at the scene, engulfing about 20 vehicles, and it took firefighters about 7 hours to bring the blaze under control.

Gunma police confirmed that two individuals died in the incident. Five people sustained severe injuries, and 21 others had minor injuries. One deceased victim was a resident from Chofu city. The other fatality is believed to be a truck driver, whose identity remains unknown.

Scene of the accident on Kan-etsu Expressway, Gunma prefecture, in a photo taken on 27/12/2024. Photo: AP

Authorities indicated that the accident likely began when a truck skidded, overturned, and blocked the road. A larger truck then collided with it from behind. Subsequent cars and trucks were unable to avoid the obstruction, leading to a chain reaction of collisions. Police are investigating if icy road conditions and heavy snowfall were contributing factors.

The incident led to the closure of the Kan-etsu Expressway in both directions. Rescue crews are currently working to remove the vehicles from the site, and the timeline for the road's reopening is yet to be determined.

Nguyen Tien (According to NHK, AFP)