MOSCOW, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed in a major traffic accident on a highway section in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, the local prosecutor general's office said on Sunday.
The accident occurred in Tatarstan's Chistopolsky District and involved at least 10 vehicles, including heavy trucks, the office said in a statement, adding that an investigation is underway.
At the request of the supervisory authority, a criminal case has been opened against service providers that failed to meet safety requirements.
A blizzard struck Tatarstan on Saturday, reducing visibility to 1 km, with strong winds gusting up to 20 m per second. Heavy snow and blizzards were forecast to continue through Sunday. ■
