At least nine dead, cars trapped in Japan tunnel collapse: media reports

At least nine people died after a major Japanese road tunnel collapsed at the weekend, trapping vehicles and sparking a blaze, media reports said on Monday.

Police have confirmed that nine bodies were found in three vehicles inside the Sasago tunnel on the Chuo Expressway, which collapsed Sunday morning, Jiji Press and Kyodo News said.

Concrete ceiling panels crushed cars and triggered the fire inside the nearly five-kilometre tunnel, 80 km west of Tokyo.

Emergency workers had collected five charred bodies - three men and two women - from a vehicle by early Monday, Jiji said.

SEE ALSO:

Japan survivors tell of tunnel horrors

VIDEO: Rescuers search for missing in Japan tunnel collapse