At least two individuals are lifeless and 30 injured after so-called “super fog” brought about greater than two dozen site visitors pile-ups on a US freeway.
Around 25 collisions occurred on the I-55 west of New Orleans in southeastern Louisiana, St John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre, advised CNN.
A mix of dense fog and smoke from marsh fires mixed to create the “super fog”, which descended on Monday morning’s rush hour, drastically reducing visibility for drivers.
Two individuals died, Sheriff Tregre confirmed on Monday afternoon, whereas fires broke out in each the northbound and southbound carriageways between Ruddock and Manchac and site visitors backed up for miles in each instructions.
In the northbound lanes, about three 18-wheel vans collided and have been absolutely engulfed in flames, Mr Tregre advised TV station, WVUE.
In the southbound lanes, there have been two reported multi-car pile-ups, certainly one of which additionally brought about a hearth.
Videos taken by individuals on the freeway confirmed the way it had develop into a slim junkyard of mangled vehicles and vans, a few of them burning.
One driver survived after his car left an elevated part of the highway, touchdown the wrong way up in a number of ft of water under, WVUE mentioned.
Mr Tregre mentioned all first responders arrived on foot as a result of the crashes left the world “completely gridlocked”.
Smoke from the fires blended with fog to create a ‘superfog’. Pic: Lance Scott
Rescue efforts, he mentioned, “will take a while”.
Parts of Interstates 55 and 10 west of New Orleans remained closed late Monday morning and the 24-mile-long causeway over Lake Pontchartrain close to New Orleans was closed at instances.
The National Weather Service mentioned on social media there have been a number of wetland fires within the area and smoke from the fires blended with fog to create a “super fog”.
Visibility was anticipated to enhance because the fog lifted, however it was unclear how lengthy the marsh fires, smoke from which could possibly be seen and smelled within the New Orleans space over the weekend, would proceed to have an effect on site visitors.
Several native faculties cancelled lessons, the Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate mentioned.
The Blood Centre of New Orleans requested for blood donors within the wake of the accidents.
Content Source: news.sky.com
