A multiple snowy accident involving more than 50 cars left two people dead and 26 injured on a highway in Japan, just as the country began the year-end holiday, authorities reported on Saturday (December 27, 2025).
The Gunma Prefectural Highway Police reported that the pileup occurred late Friday evening on the Kan-etsu Expressway and began with a collision between two trucks in the city of Minakami, about 160 kilometers northwest of Tokyo.
According to police, a 77-year-old woman from Tokyo has died. Of the 26 injured, five are in serious condition.
Japanese authorities found a second lifeless body in a large burning truck this Saturday while authorities were clearing the highway of vehicles.
The collision between the trucks blocked parts of the highway and the cars behind were unable to brake on the snowy surface. According to police, more than 50 vehicles were involved in the pileup.
At the other end of the pileup, a fire broke out and spread to more than a dozen vehicles, some of which burned completely. No one was injured in the fire, which was extinguished about seven hours later, police said.
A warning of heavy snowfall was in effect on Friday evening, when New Year’s Eve and New Year’s holidays began for many Japanese.
Parts of the highway remained closed so police could investigate the accident, remove it and remove debris.
There was a heavy snowstorm in the area when the accident occurred, so authorities suspect the road was frozen, which contributed to the accident, public television NHK reported.
In images of the area published by Japanese media, dozens of destroyed cars, many burned, can be seen in the middle of the road, which remains closed while authorities clear the area.
jc (ap, efe, NHK)
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