Authorities in central China said a highway pile-up killed 16 people and injured dozens more, with footage aired showing burning trucks and smashed cars.
Nearly 50 vehicles were involved in multiple collisions along a highway in Hunan province, “with some vehicles catching fire,” according to local traffic
Footage online shows multiple burning trucks with delivery company logos, crushed and overturned cars, and a dark cloud of smoke rising from the crashes.
According to police, 16 people were killed in the pile-up, including seven in a single collision, and 66 were injured.
“The injured were promptly sent to hospital for thorough treatment, including eight whose injuries were relatively severe, whose vital signs are currently stable,” the traffic police said.
The pile-up occurred in Changsha, the provincial capital, and more than 180 rescue workers were dispatched to the scene.
China’s emergency management ministry announced that an investigation into the cause of the accident had been launched.
