M20 closed in both directions after thirty-vehicle crash in thick fog

According to primary reporting by Dimsumdaily, the chaos began at about 6.41pm on Saturday on the London-bound carriageway near Hollingbourne, close to Maidstone. Kentonline noted that the accident occurred near Leeds Castle between Junction 8 for Hollingbourne and Junction 9 for Ashford. LBC confirmed that emergency services rushed to the scene shortly before 6.40pm as the scale of the incident quickly became apparent.

Emergency responders faced daunting conditions at the site. Kent Police stated that two people sustained serious injuries in the pile-up. One of the seriously injured patients was transferred to a London hospital, while the second was admitted to a local hospital. Further details regarding injuries emerged from the fire and rescue service, which confirmed that a total of 11 people were cared for by SECAmb paramedics for less severe harm. Three fire engines and a technical rescue unit attended the scene alongside police, ambulance crews, National Highways traffic officers, and an Air Ambulance team to free trapped motorists and secure the area.

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Drivers caught in the aftermath described terrifying moments on the motorway. Witnesses travelling through Kent reported that fog appeared suddenly, forcing vehicles to slow down dramatically before they could see brake lights ahead of them. Some motorists suggested that smoke from local fireworks near Leeds Castle may have compounded the dense fog, severely reducing visibility for anyone driving towards Maidstone. Other regional routes, such as the Thanet area between Sarre and Monkton and the A299, also experienced heavy fog conditions.

The incident has drawn comparisons to historic major road accidents in the region, such as the massive pile-up on the Sheppey Crossing in September 2013, though authorities noted that no fatalities have been reported in connection with the M20 collision despite the large number of vehicles involved.

National Highways implemented comprehensive diversions, channeling traffic onto the A20 while advising road users to avoid the area entirely. The motorway remained shut overnight in both directions. Traffic caught directly within the closure experienced extensive delays, with crews taking up to five hours to turn stranded vehicles around from the back of the queues. Earlier updates from National Highways indicated that due to the massive scale of the incident and subsequent congestion, an estimated reopening time could not immediately be provided.

The Met Office issued a fog warning extending until 10.00am on Sunday across large parts of southern England and the Midlands, as officials appealed for heightened caution from all road users.

Authorities have urged anyone with information regarding the collision, or drivers possessing relevant dashcam footage, to assist Kent Police with their inquiries by utilizing the force's live chat function or calling 101, referencing incident 07-1245. Recovery operations and safety checks are ongoing, and both carriageways are expected to reopen only after National Highways and police confirm the route is fully secure.