Monitoring Desk
BEIJING: At least sixteen people were killed, and dozens were killed in a highway pile-up in central China, authorities said Sunday, with footage aired on local media showing smashed cars and burning trucks.
Nearly 50 vehicles were involved in several collisions along a highway in Hunan province on Saturday evening. Some of the vehicles caught fire during the incident”, local traffic police said in a statement.
The state-owned People’s Daily published footage online showing multiple burning trucks bearing the logos of delivery companies, a dark cloud of smoke rising from the crashes, and crushed and overturned cars.
Highway pile-up: Investigation sought into the incident
Traffic police said at least 16 people were killed in the pile-up. Police said seven people were killed in a single collision. Police further said that 66 people also sustained injuries in the incident.
“The injured were immediately sent to hospital for a thorough treatment, including eight critically injured, whose vital signs are currently stated to be stable,” the traffic police said.
People’s Daily said the pile-up occurred in the provincial capital Changsha and that over 180 rescue workers were sent to the scene on Saturday.
On Sunday, the emergency management ministry of China said it had called for a probe into the reason behind the accident.
