Two people have died in Japan - after at least 50 vehicles were caught in a pile-up on a highway north-west of Tokyo

Local police say two trucks collided - sparking a chain reaction that set at least 10 vehicles on fire.

It's thought icy surfaces caused the trucks to skid.

Work is underway, to tow a long line of cars that remain stuck in the outbound lane.

9 News' Amber Cunneen, says it took about seven and a half hours to put the blaze out.

She says the aftermath is almost as striking as the blaze itself - a twisted mess of burnt out cars, reduced to the colour of ash.