Sand storm causes 80 car pileup in Germany, at least eight dead [Video]

At least eight people are dead and 41 injured following a sand storm that swallowed a four-lane highway in Germany.

A massive sand storm in northern Germany is being blamed for an 80 car pileup that has claimed the lives of at least eight people. Authorities fear that death toll could rise as the wreckage is sorted.

Strong winds in Kavelstorf, germany kicked up dirt and debris from nearby fields, blanketing the four-lane highway in a cloud of dust. Authorities are unsure if a lack of visibility or slippery road conditions were to blame for the multi-car pileup.

Whatever the cause, 80 cars and trucks were involved in the crash, leaving a scene that looks more like a war zone than a highway. About 110 people were involved in the accident, with 41 sustaining injuries. There are eight people confirmed dead, but that count will likely rise as several cars are still on fire or trapped under other vehicles.

"Unfortunately, it looks like the death toll could rise further," Rostock police spokesman Volker Werner said. "One truck has crashed on a car, so we don't know yet how many people are in the car below it."

The region has experienced extreme dry conditions, leaving the soil vulnerable to wind erosion.