A dense “superfog” hovered overNewOrleanson Monday, shrouding the area in an impenetrable mist that led to trafficpileupsinvolving dozens of vehicles and leavingatleastseven peopledead, authorities said.
Atleast158 vehicles were involved in a series of crashes, which began just before 9 am on Interstate 55 northwest ofNewOrleans, the Louisiana State Police said, noting thatfoghad been a “contributing factor.” An additional 25 people were injured, some of them critically, police said.
After the accidents, which involved vehicles in both northbound and southbound lanes, some vehicles caught fire, according to police. A tanker truck carrying “hazardous liquid” was being removed, police said, adding that it was possible that “additional fatalities could be located.” The State Police urged anyone with a missing family member to contact the agency.
Aerial images posted to the State Police’s Facebook page show severalpileupson Interstate 55, including some cars and trucks that appeared to be charred.
The thickfogcame from a combination of moisture in the air and smoke from sporadic marsh fires across the Mississippi River Valley toward Baton Rouge, Louisiana, said Tyler Stanfield, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service inNewOrleans.
“It was the perfect storm,” Stanfield said.
Whilesuperfogis uncommon, it’s not an unheard-of phenomenon.NewOrleanstypically experiencessuperfogtwice a year. It is usually fueled by marsh fires, which have become more frequent in the area this year because of drier conditions, Stanfield said.
Thefogbegan to set in around 3 am Monday and became dense around sunrise, he said. Visibility for drivers was down toaslowasone-eighth of a mile.
The State Police closed parts of Interstates 10, 55 and 310 on Monday morning and warned that, because of the heavyfog, “drivers should avoid the area if possible and use alternate routes.” Interstates 10 and 310 South later reopened, but portions of Interstate 55 remained closed Monday evening.
By the afternoon most of thefoghad cleared, with the last of it lingering in the suburbs west ofNewOrleans, Stanfield said.
(Published 24 October 2023, 03:51 IST)