U.S. National Weather Service says the fire was caused by a wetland in southern Louisiana.
‘Super fog’ was identified as the cause of an accident in which 158 vehicles collided one after another on a highway in Louisiana, USA.
According to the Associated Press on the 24th (local time), the National Weather Service announced that the cause of the serial collision accident that occurred on the I-55 Expressway in Manchaek, Louisiana on the 23rd was ‘super fog’ that occurs thickly in the morning air.
The National Weather Service explained that this ‘super fog’ was caused by thick smoke from fires in wetlands in southern Louisiana, combined with cool morning air, creating thicker fog than usual.
According to the National Weather Service, super fog refers to fog that becomes thicker due to smoke from fires. When super fog occurs, visibility may decrease to 3m or less.
“Super fog events are not extremely rare, but the conditions for them to actually occur are very difficult,” said Tyler Stanfield, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in New Orleans. “Fireworks have also caused super fogs during Fourth of July and New Year’s celebrations. “He said.
The super fog that occurred this time was intensified by the fire that occurred in the Louisiana wetlands. Fires rarely occur in wetlands, but the hot and dry weather that persisted in the United States this summer led to unprecedented droughts and wildfires.
“The damage is more severe when wildfires occur in wetlands and woodlands due to drought,” said Mike Strain of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture. “When dry grass catches fire, it not only burns the grass on the ground, but also the crust and the peat layer underneath.” “It burns,” he explained.
“Super fogs are one of the phenomena that is becoming more frequent due to climate change,” said Stephen Murphy, director of the disaster management program at Tulane University. “It is clear that the drought in Louisiana has caused wetland fires.”
The super fog that occurred in the Louisiana area was resolved on the evening of the 23rd as high pressure moved toward Georgia and winds became stronger. However, work to extinguish the fire in the nearby wetlands, which caused the accident, is still in progress.
Louisiana State Police said at least seven people were killed in the accident and 25 were taken to the hospital.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.