A pile-up involving at least 50 vehicles on a highway in central Japan has left two people dead and 26 injured, according to police.
The incident was caused by a crash between two trucks, sparking a chain reaction that set at least 10 vehicles on fire, local police said.
A 77-year-old woman from Tokyo was killed, and another body was discovered in the driver's seat of a burnt-out truck. Five people were seriously injured, and 21 suffered minor injuries, police reported.
There was a heavy snow warning in place at the time of the crash. Authorities believe icy surfaces likely caused the trucks to skid on the roads.
The crash happened on the Kan-etsu Expressway in Minakami, Gunma Prefecture, about 160km (100 miles) north-west of Tokyo, at around 19:30 local time (10:30 GMT) on 26 December.
It took approximately seven and a half hours to extinguish the fire caused by the pile-up.
After the accident, a section of the highway was closed, leading to a long line of vehicles, many of which were charred beyond recognition. Recovery efforts are underway.
A man in his 60s, whose vehicle was part of the accident, described hearing a loud explosion and seeing flames, which rapidly spread to nearby vehicles.
He, along with about 50 other people, was evacuated to a nearby toll gate, where they spent the night inside.
Nexco, the road operator, stated that inspections are needed to determine if the highway surface was compromised by the fire and has cautioned travelers to avoid using the highway.
