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Story highlights
NEW: At least seven people are confirmed dead and 51 injured
NEW: More people are feared trapped in vehicles, police say
NEW: Poor weather and a nearby fireworks display may have been a factor
NEW: The crash in Somerset involved 34 vehicles, including heavy trucks
At least seven people are confirmed dead and 51 injured in a “horrific” traffic accident in southwest England, Somerset police said Saturday.
Assistant Chief Constable Anthony Bangham told reporters more bodies are feared to be still trapped in badly burnt vehicles.
Some of the vehicles are “burnt to the ground” and unrecognizable, he said in a televised news conference after visiting the site. “This is a horrific scene.”
The crash occurred about 8:25 p.m. Friday on the M5 highway in Somerset, which is about 70 kilometers (45 miles) southwest of Bristol, according to an online release from Devon and Somerset Fire Rescue.
Bangham said poor weather was likely to have been a factor, with wet roads after rain and banks of fog reported in the area.
Police were also looking into a nearby fireworks display to see if it may have played a role, he said.
He praised members of the public who showed “real bravery” in trying to rescue people from blazing vehicles, as well as the efforts of the emergency services.
“For a motorway incident, this is just about as big as it gets,” he said. “This is a highly complex, very dramatic incident for our officers.”
He said part of the highway would remain closed in both directions until at least Sunday.
About 15 fire trucks responded to the scene.
CNN’s Nicky Robertson contributed to this report.