Superfog Strikes Louisiana

At least eight people have been killed and at least 63 others injured after a wall of dense fog, known as a "superfog," reduced visibility to near zero on an interstate in southeastern Louisiana Monday, causing a 168-car pileup. The rescue operations, which continued through yesterday, were complicated by multiple vehicles catching fire and a truck transporting an undisclosed "hazardous liquid."

Superfog forms when cool, saturated air mixes with smoke and moisture from wildfires—especially burning damp materials like brush, leaves, and trees—intensifying the fog's density and coverage. Louisiana has been grappling with severe weather conditions this year, including wildfires, extreme heat, and exceptional drought. The city of New Orleans said it is currently monitoring an underground fire blazing in forested wetlands.

The rare weather phenomenon can reduce visibility to less than 10 feet and is often found in the southern US near creek beds, drainage ditches, or swampy areas. It can be particularly dangerous on highways and has caused several large pileups, including one in central Florida last year.