A massive pile-up on Japan’s Kan-etsu Expressway on Friday left one person dead and 26 others injured, highlighting the dangers of winter travel during the year-end holiday season. The accident occurred in Minakami, about 160 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, amid heavy snowfall that made braking difficult for oncoming traffic.

Gunma prefectural police reported that the crash began when two trucks collided, triggering a chain reaction involving over 50 vehicles. Among the injured, five were in serious condition, while a 77-year-old woman from Tokyo succumbed to her injuries, according to authorities.

The collision caused a fire at the far end of the pile-up, engulfing more than a dozen vehicles. Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze after roughly seven hours, and fortunately, no additional injuries were reported from the fire.

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Snow warnings were in effect across the region at the time, as many Japanese travelers were on the roads for year-end and New Year holidays. Police emphasized that icy conditions and sudden collisions contributed to the scale and severity of the accident.

Authorities have closed sections of the expressway to investigate the crash, remove vehicles, and clear debris. Officials continue to urge drivers to exercise caution on snowy roads, with winter travel expected to remain hazardous across the region for the coming days.

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