Beijing, Jan 20: Several people were injured when over 80 cars were involved in 21 pile-ups at almost the same time on the Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway, media reports said today. It was raining and foggy at around midday yesterday on the five-km Shaoguan City section in northern Guangdong Province when the near-simultaneous collisions occurred. The exact number of people injured in the accidents was not available. The road was immediately closed by police after the accidents, an official with the Shaoguan City public security bureau said.

Most of the motorists were returning home for family reunions at the traditional spring festival, or the Chinese lunar new year, holiday which falls on January 22. Some badly damaged cars were removed by rescue vehicles.

All the collisions were caused by over-speed, police said.

The expressway was cleared and reopened last evening, but was later closed again because of heavy fog.

Bureau Report