Chinese authorities have mobilized an emergency response team to northwest China’s Xinjiang region following a series of devastating highway collisions that resulted in multiple casualties. The incident occurred Saturday evening around 10 p.m. local time along an expressway in Usu City, located within Tacheng Prefecture, where rapidly deteriorating weather conditions triggered a chain-reaction accident involving twelve vehicles.
The catastrophic event unfolded as sudden, dense fog combined with sub-zero temperatures created dangerously icy road surfaces within minutes. The resulting low visibility and slippery conditions led to sequential impacts involving five large commercial vehicles and seven passenger cars traveling along the affected highway segments.
China’s Ministry of Emergency Management confirmed the dispatch of a specialized working group to coordinate rescue operations and provide on-site support. Official reports indicate the collisions resulted in nine fatalities and seven individuals sustaining injuries of varying severity.
Emergency management officials have emphasized the implementation of scientifically organized rescue protocols to prevent secondary accidents while prioritizing medical treatment for the injured. The ministry has additionally called for a comprehensive investigation to determine the exact sequence of events and identify contributing factors to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Local authorities continue to manage the aftermath of the incident while examining regional highway safety protocols, particularly regarding rapid weather changes in the area’s challenging winter conditions.