Expressway crashes kill 7 in E China

JINAN - Seven people died and 35 others were injured in at least 22 accidents on several sections of an expressway in East China's Shandong province amid heavy fog on Monday, local government officials said.

Seven crashes occurred at the Tai'an section of the Beijing-Taipei Expressway early Monday morning, leaving one dead and eleven injured, while 15 crashes occurred on the expressway's Ningyang section, killing six and injuring another 24, the traffic police reported.

Heavy fog shrouded southeastern parts of Shandong early Monday, reducing visibility in some areas to less than 50 meters, according to local meteorological authorities. Parts of the province's expressways were temporarily closed.

By Monday afternoon, police said the expressways had reopened.