Intense snow storm causes 130 car pile-up on Japanese highway
Officials in Japan's northern Miyagi Prefecture say a snowstorm that blanketed the region yesterday caused a multi-car pile-up on the Tohoku Expressway that left one driver dead, at least 10 injured and about 200 people stranded in at least 130 vehicles.
A 50km/h speed limit was enforced on the road due to poor visibility and wind speeds of about 100km/h were recorded at the time of the incident, local meteorologists said.
READ MORE: Japan declares state of emergency for Tokyo after coronavirus spike
One person was killed and at least 10 injured in the mass pile-up. Yusuke Ogata/Kyodo News via AP
Authorities had a 50km/h speed limit in place but it wasn't enough to avoid catastrophe. Yusuke Ogata/Kyodo News via AP
READ MORE: Snowstorm brings US south to standstill
Japanese television showed video from the scene with many emergency crews attempting to help motorists while snow continued to fall.
Japan's Meteorological Agency's regional headquarters in Miyagi Prefecture's capital, Sendai, is forecasting more heavy snow along with high winds in the coming days in Japan's Hokuriku, Tohoku and Hokkaido regions, with record snowfall of up to 50 centimetres.
With AP
Officials predict the severe snow system will remain for at least another day. Yusuke Ogata/Kyodo News via AP
Wind speeds reached in excess of 100km/h at the time of the accident. Yusuke Ogata/Kyodo News via AP
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
Most viewed in Australia
Unpopular policies could be what’s needed to stop ‘blunt’ rate rises
Dan Anstey to co-host Weekend Today, join Today team as weather presenter
Warning months left for inflation battle ahead of forecast rates rise
A $130 million change was meant to hit your supermarket shelves. Then the government backflipped
