The Hume Highway has been closed in both directions and a truck driver is unaccounted for after a crash and fire involving seven semi-trailers near Goulburn on the state’s Southern Tablelands.
The incident occurred just after 5am near the township of Breadalbane.
It appears two trucks collided and careered into five other rigs at a roadside rest stop.
One truck was carrying eight tonnes of butane cans, another was transporting resin, a third contained memory foam and a fourth was packed with alcohol, fuelling the resulting fire and explosions.
Four drivers escaped the wreckage but another hasn’t been located.
Authorities have established a 300-metre exclusion zone and traffic is being diverted around the scene through Canberra via the Federal and Barton Highways.
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has deployed seven fire trucks, including two Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) appliances, and up to 40 firefighters, to the scene.
Police, Ambulance, Rural Fire Service (RFS) and Traffic Management crews are also involved in the emergency operation.
