At least 12 people were injured after a mass car collision in Kazakhstan’s Akmola region involving 95 cars amid bad weather conditions, the country’s highway operator said on Friday.

A statement by KazAvtoJol on Telegram said traffic restrictions were initially imposed for all types of vehicles due to “deteriorating weather conditions” on a section of the highway connecting the northern city of Petropavl to Kazakhstan’s capital Astana.

The statement said that while the highway was cleared after weather conditions improved, a mass collision involving 95 cars took place in part of the highway near the village of Zhanatalap, located about 27 kilometers (16.7 miles) north of Astana.

"As a result of the accident, 12 people were injured and taken to the district hospital," it further said, adding that as of 9 p.m. (1600GMT), 85 out of 95 vehicles have been recovered from the accident on the Astana-Petropavl highway.

An operation is underway to clear the road, the statement added. (Anadolu Agency)