Heavy Snow Triggers Over 50-Car Pile-Up On Japan Expressway | Video

At least two people died, and 26 others were injured after heavy snowfall triggered a major traffic accident on Friday evening in Japan’s Gunma Prefecture, reported Kyodo News.

The crash took place at nearly

7.30 PM on the outbound stretch of the Kan-etsu Expressway in Minakami, located northwest of Tokyo. The roads have been turned icy, causing vehicles to lose control and collide.

Snow-covered roads had turned icy, causing vehicles to lose control and collide in quick succession.

Police said the accident began when a truck rammed into another truck that had stopped after an earlier single-vehicle crash.

This impact set off a chain reaction involving more than 50 vehicles across a stretch of about 300 metres. The situation worsened rapidly as several vehicles caught fire, with at least 10 reported to have been engulfed in flames.

Firefighters worked for over seven hours to extinguish the blaze. Many vehicles were left badly damaged, some burned beyond recognition, forcing authorities to shut down a section of the expressway for rescue work, investigation and debris removal.

Among the victims was a 77-year-old woman from Tokyo, who was sitting in the back seat of a car driven by her family members, police confirmed. Another body was recovered from the driver’s seat of a large truck involved in the collision.

🔴JAPAN 🇯🇵 | A serious accident followed by a massive pileup involving up to 67 cars and trucks occurred on Friday, December 26, around 7:30 p.m. on the #KanetsuExpressway, a major highway leading out of #Japan, in #Minakami, Gunma Prefecture. Numerous injuries were reported. pic.twitter.com/YkAJbFPBUb

— Nanana365 (@nanana365media) December 27, 2025

Motorists had earlier been advised to limit their speed to 50 kilometres per hour due to the snowfall. Despite the warning, the icy surface made driving extremely difficult.

Recalling the terrifying moments, a truck driver in his 60s said his vehicle hit the median while he tried to avoid a car ahead. He also reported hearing several explosions during the crash. “The ice made it difficult for me to control the steering wheel,” he said. “I feared for my life.”

Authorities had issued a heavy snow warning on Friday, coinciding with the start of the year-end and New Year holiday travel period. Officials said the severe weather was a key factor behind the deadly pileup and confirmed that parts of the expressway would remain closed until safety checks and clearing operations are completed.

The incident shocked many online users, who noted that Japan is often seen as having one of the safest road networks in the world.